The Last of the War 
Governors 



A BIOGRAPHICAL APPRECIATION OF 
COLONEL WILLIAM SPRAGUE 

Governor of Rhode Island. 1860-18^3, With Special Reference to His 

I'nrticipatiun in the I^oyal War Governors' Conference 

at Altoonn, Penunylvania, Septenihf>r, IS(i'J 



By HENRY W. SHOEMAKER 

I^ientennnt-Coloncl and A. D. C, National Guard of Pennsylvania 




rmc I.OGAN HOUSK. AI.TOONA. 



I'lihlisheii by the Altoona Tribune Publishinti Co., Altoona. Pa. 

Copyrighted. All Riiihts Reserved. 

191(t 



mM^mm^^m^ 



The Last of the War 
Governors 



A BIOGRAPHIGAI. APPRECIATION <)!< 

coloxi<:t. wit;liam spracuk 

•inoi- of H1U..U- Islaiid, lS()()-IS(i.}, With Special liofor.-iir.- fo 
His Parlicipatioii in the Loyal War Governors' Conference 
at Altoona. Pennsylvania, September. 1862 



y 



By HENRY WTSHOEMAKER 

Lieutenant-Colonel and A. D. C. National (Juaril of ]»ennsy Ivanif 



We uncommiseraie pass into the night 

From the loud banquet, and departing leave 

A tremor in mtn's memories, faint and siveel 

And frail as music. Features of our face. 

The tones of the voice, the touch of the beloved hand, 

Piii^li (1)1(1 ninish, one by one, from earth: 

MKiinrhilf, in the h(dl of song, the muldlude 

Applaii'h llic new performer. One, perchance, 

One ultimate survivor lingers on, 

And smdes, and to his ancient heart recalls 

The long forgotten. Ere the morrow dies, 

He too, returning, through the curtain comes, 

Arid the new age forgets us and goes on. 

— R. L. STEVENSON 



ALTOONA, 1»A. 

Published l)y (lie Altoona Tribune Publishiuj; Couipanj 
]!)l(i 

C.opyrishted. All l{i«hls Keseiv.d 



sr6 



APR 15 1916 
©CU427729 




WILLIAM SPRAGUE, 



War Governor of Rhode Island. 
About the Time of the Loyal 
in Altoona, 1862. 



From a Photograph Taken 
War Governors' Conference 



(Frontispiece) 



INDEX OF CHAPTERS. 

Chapter Page 

I. Introduction o 

II. P.irth of Parentage G 

III. The h'irst XOlunteer 

I\'. In United v'^tates Senate 12 

\'. Lincoln's Confidante 15 

\'l. The Conference Assembles IS 

\ il. (Opinions and Results of Conference 20 

\'III. Later Years 24 

IX. Altoona's Lride 37 

X. Stories of the Conference 32 

XL Death and Funeral (.52 

XII. His I 'lace in History DO 



I. INTRODUCTION. 

AFKW weeks ago lliere passed away, at his com- 
\> Htable home in I'aris, France, a most remark- 
al)k' man. William v^j^rague. First \'olunteer of the 
Civil War. War Governor of Rhode Island, twice 
United vStates Senator, splendid gentleman, ardent 
patriot, loyal friend. The separation of miles, the 
lapse of \ ears, the forgetfulness of rising generations 
had caused his name, once a watchword of all that was 
n(i1)lest in American ideals, to become unfamiliar to 
many, hut his deatli and funeral forcibly recalled "his 
name and fame" ti) all, emblazoning it again in history; 
graven deep "lest we forget." " It was the writer's priv- 
ilege to have ])asse(l considerable time with this mag- 
nificent .\mei-ican during the months of July and Au- 
gust. r.»i;!. and to liave heard from his lips some of 
the inside history of the Civil War, especially as re- 
lating to the LoAal War Governor's Conference held 
at Altoona, Tennsvlvania, in September, 1862. With 
a mind tuKlimmed by the inroads of age, though ])hysi- 
callv ver\- weak from the effects of a stroke of paraly- 
sis, the aged War (lovernor related the marvellous 
incidents of his immortal career, interspersing them 
with jokes and .ilhcr signs of good humor. Though 
some of the information related to him does not cor- 
respond in every rcs])ect with written history, it is 
probably more correct as intimatel\- retlecting tlie times 



as they actually occurred to the chief actors — the life 
behind the scenes. In Civil War times as in the pres- 
ent Great War censorship existed and to an extent the 
public was allowed to hear only what was thought 
best for them. Historians too often accepted these 
guarded or garbled statements as facts, and built their 
foundations u])on them. This was particidarly true 
of the Altoona Conference; its real purposes were 
necessarily kept from press and public, but unfortu- 
nately too long, as historians had little to grasp at when 
sitting down to indite their final estimates. Fortunate 
indeed was it that Governor Sprague survived into 
the present da}\ so that his story might be recorded, 
and place the War Governors" Conference in the light 
it deserved to be — the pivotal and deciding point of the 
Civil War — and to properly describe the parts played 
by each of the great actors in it. At one time Colonel 
Sprague was at work upon a lengthy article dealing 
with the Altoona meeting, but the manuscript was lost 
with other papers when his beautiful home, "Canon- 
chet,"" at Narragansett Pier, Rhode Island, was de- 
stroyed by fire several years ago. The aged states- 
man almost lost his life in trying to rescue his manu- 
scripts and papers, but the cruel flames miade a clean 
sweep of the mental gleanings of a lifetime. If this 
manuscript had been preserved, the Sprague version 
of the W^ar Governors' Conference would have been 
given to the world ere this and the account w^'itten of 
it by Governor Austin Blair, of Michigan, might have 
had a valuable supplement. Rut once destroyed it 



could iidt l)c rewritten; the old Klio Ir Inland palnur 
was too frail to take up the ])en again ; his story of the 
historic nieeting hid fair never to see the light of day. 
It was therefore with ])leasure that Colonel Spraguc 
recounted some of the incidents oi the Conference 
and the circumstances leading up to and following it, 
when the writer saw him two years ago. Fragmentary 
as compared to the written account, lacking perhaps in 
some salient details due to the forgetfulness incidental 
to over half a century, yet it stands as a frank state- 
ment of a great man's part in a momentous historical 
event. To the writer it stands as well as a hai)py 
memory of one of the most charming acquaintance- 
ships formed in life's pilgrimage, of hours spent with 
a no])le and lovahle soul. 

Hi:m;v W. Suoi-maki:!;. 

Altoox.v Tuihun'h Office, Xovkmuki: 15, JDl."). 



II. WILLIAM SPRAGUE'S BIRTH, PARENTAGE 
AND EARLY LIFE. 

WILLIAM S PRAGUE, the subject of this sketch, 
was born at Cranston. Rhode Lsland. on Sep- 
tember 1'^. 1<S;3U. the son of Amasa and Fanny ]\Iorgan 
Sprague. Lie was named for his great-grandfather, 
the first \\'illiam Sprague, the founder of the family 
fortune. Destiny early marked him as her own, bring- 
ing" into his life great events, some tragic, some heroic, 
but all unusual. As a small boy lie was filled with 
military ardor. At ten he was drilling his classmates, 
much as his younger contemporary, Ellsworth, the 
Xew '^'ork State tailor's son was wont to do. 
William Sprague's start in life was most ausi)icious. 
His father was the wealthiest and most prominent mill 
owner in. the state of Rhode Island; the son inherited 
his parents' Xcw England brilliancy, added to \\hich 
was a handsome person and rare charm of manner. 
His earl}- education was obtained at Cranston. East 
Greenwich, and Scituate, in his native State, at all of 
which ]ilaces he managed to organize his schoolmates 
into military bodies. In recalling these early military 
days, he was fond of comparing the training he sought 
to give his boy friends to the work of the modern Boy 
Scouts, which organization he admired greatly. His 
education was completed at the Irving Institute, at 




GOVERNOR SPRAGUE IN MIDDLE LIFE. 



THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 



Tarrvtowii, Xew ^'ork. while lirown University, at 
I'rovidence. gave liiin the lionorarv decree of A. M. in 
ISfil. I'.arlv in hfe his father, the wealthy mill owner, 
was nmrdered h\- an anj^ry striker, and tlie slayer ])aid 
the death i)enalt\-, lieinj;- the last man ever han.ged in 
Rhode island. This tragic episode made a profonnd 
impression uptjn yonng William Sprague. It with- 
drew him from the gaieties which as a rich man's son 
he might ha\e drifted into; it tnrned his thoughts more 
intentlv npon his military and commercial amhitions. 
In 184.-). at the early age of hfteen years, he took ui) 
the resixmsihilities of life hy entering his uncle's mer- 
cantile honse, succeeding to the entire husincss in 
]S.-)(;. when oidy twenty-six years of age. As he had 
previously done at school, he proceeded to organize his 
em])lo\-es iiUo military companies, acting as their com- 
mander and drillmaster. He was an early ap(istle of 
prepare Iness. He possessed a strong helief in the et^- 
cacv of th.e National Guard, heing one of its real 
founders in the United v^tates. It is .said that as early 
as the middle hfties he foresaw the Civil War, which 
spurred him on to greater efforts to do his share to 
])reserve the I'nion. His fortune, which was consi- 
dered a great one at the time, enahled him to organize 
a Rhode Island militia. Though small in numhers. the 
organization was splendidl\- drilled and e(|uipped. 
William Sprague i)aid all the hill-, he>ides devoting 
nmch time U> the details and general administrative 
wiirk. His vast hiisiness interests and militarv affilia- 



THE LAST OP THE WAR GOVERNORS. 



tions brought him into contact with poHticians, and he 
ultimately took an active interest in the councils of the 
old Democratic part}-. His ability and personal popu- 
larly resulted in his election as Governor of Rhode 
Island in the fall of ISiiO. lie being but thirty years old 
at the time, and the }oungest Governor ever elected in 
the State. In order to receive the nomination som- of 
his friends stated the year of his birth as 1829, Ijut he 
finally was able to establish the fact that he was born 
a year later, "to discard that extra year."" as he laugh- 
ingly stated it to the writer of these pages. At the 
time of his first electii^n to the Governorship, he was 
descriljed as tlie handsomest man in New England. 
He was of mediimi height, about five feet eight inches, 
slenderly but athleticall}' built, with erect carriage, and 
proud poise of the head. His eyes were of a peculiar 
color — "stone color."' some called them; they seemed 
brown sometimes, blue at others, yet could never l)e 
called hazel. His hair was ])rown in color and wavv. 
the complexion fair and delicate as a young girl's. 
The fine lines of his mouth were not concealed bv the 
slight nuistache. and the smile wliicli lit up eves anrl 
mouth was fascinating to l)ehold. 



III. THE FIRST VOLUNTEER. 

WlllCX. on A])ril T.', iMil, I'ort v'^umtcr was Ixnn- 
Ijurded. William v'-^pragne, trained soldier and 
with an efficient command back of liim. telegraphed to 
President Lincoln. "Will you accept First Rhode 
Island Regiment?"" To which Father Abraham sent 
the characteristic and prompt reply, "Yes; send them 
C|uick." The regiment was in Washington ready for 
service on .\]M-il IS, a few hours after the arrixal 
of the "First J^efenders"' from Reading and Al- 
lentown. Pennsylvania, but Sprague had been the hrst 
individual to volunteer in the mighty confiict. As a 
military leader. S])rague was in his element. His 
courage was magnihcent, his strategy that of a born 
general. He led his troops at the First Rattle of Hull 
Run on July '.M. lS(il. and distinguished himself for 
gallantry under hre. As President Lincoln had ad- 
mired the brave Colonel Ellsworth, he made the 
young and dashing Sprague his ideal after Ellsworth's 
tragic death. He frequently consulted with the young 
Rhode Islander on im])ortant military matters. He 
was so impressed with his cai)abilities that he urged 
him to acce])t a commission as Prigadier (jeneral. but 
Sprague declined as he felt that he had duties to per- 
form at home. However, he served with distinction 
during the entire Peninsular campaign. He had been 
first elected Governor of Rhode Island in the fall of 



10 THHE LAS OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 

18()(), be was re-elected by a big majority in ISIil. 
and re-elected for a tbird time in 18G2. At tbe tbird 
election, out of a total of 11,"?()4 ballots cast, be re- 
ceived 11,10!), or tbe biggest majority ever given to a 
gubernatorial candidate in bis State. W'bile still Gov- 
ernor be was, on ]\Iay 28, 1862, elected United States 
Senator from Rbode Island. He resigned as Gov- 
ernor on Marcb :!. ISd;]. and took bis scat in tbe sen- 
ate. Wben be resigned tbe colonelcy of tbe First 
Rbode Island regiment be sougbt about for a capable 
successor. A sbrewd judge of men, be studied tbe 
qualities of many before be finally decided upon a 
young Frencbman named Devries, wbo bad served 
in Algeria, wbo lias been described as a "second 
Sprague." He made an admirable officer, maintain- 
ing tbe efficiencv of bis command. He won fame as 
an artillerist, ultimately being commissioned a Brig- 
adier General. Tbe period of tbe Civil war was a 
busv one for "Tbe First \'olunteer."' At one time 
be was practicall}- a Colonel in active service. Gov- 
ernor of a state. United States senator, contidante of 
President Lincoln, bead of a vast manufacturing con- 
cern, trustee of I'.rown university and bead of tbe re- 
cruiting Inu'eaus in bis section of Xew England, 
blow one man could do all tbese tbings and more, and 
do tbem well in a time of stress is bard to conceive, 
r.ut Wibiam Sprague was in addition "captain of bis 
soul," evervtbing seemed easv to one witb sucb an 
orderlv intellect. As confidante to tbe President be 



THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 11 



was one of the first to point onl (icncral .McClellan'> 
inefificienc\-, anil ^IcadfastK' nri^x'd his removal. As a 
New Kni^iander, he had ])r(in(>uneed anti-slavery views 
and liad ninch to do witli drawing- of the Emancipa- 
tion ])roclamatii)n, and, incidental!}-, the docnments rc- 
latint;- to tlie Conference of Loyal War Governors" 
at Altoona. ^'et with all these honors and responsi- 
bilities he was a modest man, he never talked or wrote 
of his wnrk ; others less (]ualihed seized credit for 
things whicli helonged to him. lUtt Colonel Sprague 
was one of nature's true nobility, he knew that pos- 
terity would give him his proper place provided the 
work he did proved of value. And in the midst of 
these epoch-making scenes, he found time to have 
a I'eautiful romance with Kate Chase. 1)elle of \\'a>h- 
ington, the daughter of Salmon V. Chase, vSecretary of 
the Treasury in President Lincoln's cabinet. Their 
marriage was another chapter in his eventful and 
stormy life. 



»W 



IV. IN UNITED STATES SENATE AND 
WEDDED AT WASHINGTON. 

PRESIDENT LINCOLN was highly pleased when 
informed of Colonel Sprague's election to the 
United States Senate. He had desired that the young 
otificer remain at the front, but the next best thing would 
be to have him with him at the capitol. Lincoln and 
Sprague were much together and a strange sameness of 
purpose existed between them. [Meanwhile the young 
senator was perfecting the plans for his marriage with 
the fascinating Kate Chase. The entire country paused 
from its concern over the war to read of the details 
of the magnificent ceremony. On November 12, 
ISi);?, the wedding took place at Washington, even 
the socially retiring Lincoln being much in evidence 
at the affair, while the edifice was thronged with cabi- 
net officials and their families, diplomats, soldiers, sen- 
ators and congressmen. The capitol had never wit- 
nessed such a ceremony and never did a young couple 
start out in life imder more brilliant auspices. Col- 
onel and Mrs. Sprague, after a necessarily brief honey- 
moon, became social leaders in Washington, their 
home being the centre of the brains and beauty of the 
day. In addition to their house at the capital, they 
maintained a country residence at Narragansett Pier, 
which they called Canonchet, after an old chief of 
the Narragansett Indians. Kate Chase Sprague util- 




ANDREW GREGG CURTIN, 
War Governor of Pennsylvania. 



THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 13 



izcd her talents at (Iccoratiiig the countn- home, 
speiuhn^- va>t sums of money to beautify the struc- 
ture and hi\- out the yroimds. Hut despite these social 
distractions, William Sprague maintaiuetl his leader- 
sliip in national affairs, lie was a recognized leader 
in the senate. He was an attractive speaker, with the 
gift of winning the SN'Uipath}- of his audiences. As 
rre>ident Lincoln's friend ho wielded a great inlluence 
with men of all parties. Everything in life seemed bent 
til advance his hap])y progress. He had been lirst 
elected to the senate in 18G2. was re-elected in 18G8. 
Out of a clear sky clouds of disaster commenced 
gathering. About the time of his second election to 
the senate his financial affairs showed signs of be- 
diming involved. Jealous politicians and business 
rivals aide;! the im|)ending trouble, which took much 
of the senator's time during his second term in his 
vain efforts to stem the inevitable. ]>ilatters reached a 
climax in the panic of IST:'). the crash came and the 
great Sprague milling corporations suspended. .\n 
inventor\- of his proi)erty taken at the time showed 
as.sets of $1(). 000. ()()(), and liabilities of $14,0(H).on<). 
It was not a bad failure, only ready cash was lacking. 
That might have lieen sup])Iied but for the jjersonal 
hostility of certain of the banking interests. T.ut 
trouble never comes singly. Domestic trials began to 
assert themselves in jjalatial Canonchet. 'i'he yoimg 
statesman-financier coming home tired from his futile 
battles against linancial ruin met a situation that would 



14 THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 

have broken the heart of a weaker man. Three chil- 
ch'en, two daughters and a son, had been born to bless 
the union and all should have been serene. Perhaps if 
it had been, the suspension of 1873 might have been 
averted. But it was too late, the shadows were gath- 
ering fast. Enemies appeared on all sides to strike 
at what they thought a broken man. When Sprague's 
term as United States senator expired in 1875, he de- 
cided not to seek re-election, the nation thereby losing 
one of her most useful lawmakers. 



TfW 



V. WAS LINCOLN'S CONFIDANTE IN TRYING 
DAYS OF STRIFE. 

Till'", inception of the Loyal War (jovernor's Con- 
ference held at the Logan house in Altoona, 
Lenns\ Ivania, September '^ L LS()<?, was probably the 
result of a visit which Governor Sprague paid to 
President Lincoln at the ^Vhite House several weeks 
before the promulgation of the Emancipation Procla- 
mation. As stated previously, "Father Abraham" had 
the higliest respect for the young governor's judg- 
ment, and consulted him on almost every important 
topic. And at this stage, William Sprague's own 
w(ir(ls l)est describe the incident. "The time had come 
to free the slaves, Init it was difficult for the president 
to foreshadow the result of this move upon the people 
of the north. Some of Mr. Lincoln's friends were 
opposed to it altogether as it. might have a bad effect 
on the army, which at that time, was suffering a series 
of defeats. Rut on the other hand, some favored it as 
a bad blow at the riches of the south. The President 
was desirous of having his action officially approved 
in the north, for if the leading men went on record 
for it the rest of the people were apt to follow. One 
night when 1 was at the White llousc, President Lin- 
coln >aid to me. '(lovcrnor Curtin lias been conspicu- 
ously loyal, he is able, he can l)e trusted. I have been 
thinking of asking- him to call a conference of 



THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 



Loyal Governors to ratify the Proclamation. What do 
}(iu think of it,' Instantly 1 replied that the ]dan was 
a splendid one. that 1. too, shared the high opinion of 
Curtin, and added that Pennsylvania was " a good 
.-strategic, central ]~>oint for the Governors to assemble 
in. Mr. Lincoln then called one of his secretaries 
and the preliminar_\- ste])s were taken to get in touch 
with Governor Curtin. So good was the ]M-esident's 
judgment in the matter that the idea found instant 
approbation from Curtin. Altoona, on the main line 
of the Pennsylvania railroad and not far from Curtin's 
home, was the place selected for the meeting. Gov- 
ernor Andrew, of ^lassachusetts, was ne.xt taken into 
confidence. He. too. became enthusiastic over the 
idea. Mr. Lincriln, Governor An;lrew and myself 
contributed ideas to the 'Address' which the Loyal 
Governors' were to send to the President. To Gov- 
ernor Curtin was entrusted the task of sending out 
tl'.e invitations and making the other arrangements. I 
h.ave heard it said that Governor Andrew suggested 
the idea of the conference to President Lincoln. I 
believe that if the full correspondence of the time could 
be gone over it would be found that Andrew did 
write some letters to ^Ir. Lincoln on the subject of the 
forthcoming Proclamation, which may have put the 
idea of a conference into the President's head before 
he talked the matter over with me. And Governor 
Curtin may have written about the momentous paper 
for all I know. lUit 1 believe that if the idea of the 



THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 17 



Altdona conference oriLjinated in the mind of any of 
the governors, it was with John A. An<h'e\v. lUit ni\' 
tjpinion is that the idea was sdel)' Ijncohi's. It was a 
great idea, and in my opinion was the pivotal ])oint of 
the Civil war. Tlie h*niancii)ation Proclamation was 
sent t)Ut (jn Septemlier '.^"i. the Loyal ()Overn(>r> ratihed 
it on Septemlier -il. the ])eople of the north then fell 
into line as a nnil. and the President with a nnited 
l)eople hack of him, ])ushed the war to a snccessfnl 
conclusion." 



7P=iS 



3!C 



VI. CONFERENCE OF THE LOYAL WAR 
GOVERNORS ASSEMBLES. 

IT was a bright, crisp morning when the Governors 
assembled in Altoona. They came by chtTercnt 
trains, some who got in the night before being met at 
the Logan House by Governor Andrew, who had been 
selected at host of the party. Governor Curtin, al- 
though stopping at the hotel, was one of the last to 
appear in the lobby at the a])i)ointed hour. When all 
had assembled the party, led by Curtin. who knew the 
historic structure well, adjourned to the east parlor, 
where they seated themselves at a round walnut table. 
Governor Andrew called the meeting to order antl 
was elected chairman. He recited the ])urposes of the 
meeting and was elected chairman, l^eing empowered 
to draw up resolutions to be sent to the President. 
He drew them up so quickly that it would look as if 
they were "cut and dried," the work of Mr. Lincoln. 
Wh.en Andrew with a final flourish of his pen fin- 
ished the document, he read it hastily to the assembled 
Governors. They were adopted unanimously, with- 
out discussion, and then Governor Andrew handed 
them to the doorkeeper, who took them across the 
street to the telegraph office, which was located in the 
Pennsylvania Railroad building directly at the rear of 
the Logan House, to be sent in full to Mr. Lincoln. 
The meeting, which began at eleven-thirty in the morn- 
ing, was adjourned at fifteen minutes past twelve, 
when President Lincoln's re])ly, acknowledging the 
receipt of the resolutions ami inviting the Governors 

18 




AUGUSTUS W. BRADFORD, 
Governor of Maryland, 1862. 



THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 19 



to confer with him in Washington, was received. The 
l^'irty then left the room, some of tliem hmching in 
Httle grou])s in chti'erent ])arts of the (hning room. 
Some of the (lovernors (hd not wait to have any hincli, 
hut went out to in(|uire about the departure of trains. 
.\ccom])anie(l by his aide Governor Sprague started 
for Washington that afternoon. Railway travel was 
uncertain, the fear of attack at the hands of vSouthern 
sympathizers made it desirable for dignitaries to 
travel unknown and in different trains. Sprague and 
his aide rode in a l)ox car, and at night fell asleep on 
the rough Moor of the car, wrapped in their military 
I)lankets. When tliey got hungry they notified the 
conductor, who sto])ped the train near some hospitable 
farm house. The journev consumed three davs. It 
was not without incidents of an exciting character. 
Southern sympathizers hred on the train a number of 
times, hut no one was hurt. After the conference ad- 
journed and also the night before the conference, the 
Governors stopping at the hotel discussed military 
questions at length. Governor Curtin's persuasive 
])ersonality was then much in evidence. Though 
silent during tlie actual conference in the "east par- 
lor," he threw much "oil on troubled waters" in soft- 
ening the bitter remarks made by many of the Gov- 
ernors in reference to the conduct of the war, and 
concerning some of the generals. He saw io it that all 
left the hotel in a tolerably happy frame of mind. He 
expressed himself as absolutely convinced as to the 
outcome of the war, and raised the faith of those Gov- 
ernors who were inclined to pessimism. 



VII. OPINIONS AND RESULTS OF THE CON- 
FERENCE. 

HISTORIANS and statesmen have be'en unani- 
mous as regards the importance of the Altoona 
conference. John Russell Young, diplomat, editor, 
author, had this to say concerning it: "The Altoona 
conference was, next to the Proclamation of Emanci- 
pation, the most decisive civil event of the war. It 
aroused the latent fires of the Union, brought discom- 
fiture to those in the North who opposed the Union, 
taught the insurgent South that it must deal with the 
United North, that President Lincoln spoke as the 
voice of the American people. It gave new strength 
and hoi^e to our brave soldiers in the field, and made 
sure that the Union cause would succeed." The elo- 
quent Colonel Alexander Kelly AlcClure. in a meet- 
ing held at Harrisburg on January 20, 1895, in mem- 
ory of Governor Curtin. made these remarks as to the 
momentous importance of the conference : 

"One of the most important events of the war. in 
which Governor Curtin played a most conspicuous 
part, is little known in history, and but imperfectly 
known even by those who observed the great move- 
ments that have transpired. I refer to the Altoona 
Conference of the Governors of the North. The 
reader of history will simply note the fact that the 



20 



THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 21 

Governors u\ the loyal States met there, conferred, 
issued an address, presented it tn President Lincoln, 
and called upon him ti> make re(|uisition upon their 
respective States for fresh tro(>])s to strengthen our 
armies for victory ; Init who is there today, save a very- 
few \'et surviving, who knew the inner story of that 
conference? Who can tell wh\- that conference was 
hel.l. 

■"Tlie Armv of the Pi-^tomac had heen defeated in 
the se\en days" hattle in front of Richmond, and Pope 
had met with disaster on the plains of Manasses, and 
had heen driven into the defenses of Washington. \'ol- 
unteering had ceased ; no national conscription law was 
then in existence ; and there was a distress bordering 
on despair in the hearts of the loyal people of the 
Xorth. (lOvernor Ciu'tin was in Xew ^'ork, an invalid 
in the care of his ])h}sician and surgetju, and for- 
hidden to lca\e his sick room, or to consider otTficial 
alTairs. v^ecretar\- Seward was in Xew York, ap- 
parently paralyzed 1)\' the darkness that enveloped the 
country. (lOvernor Curtin, forgetting his illness and 
the admonitions of his phxsicians. accepted Seward's 
invitation to a conference, and Seward repeated to 
him only what he well knew before, that the depressed 
condition (jf the loyal i)eo])le who supported the Gov- 
ernment was such that the President believed it to be 
perilous to issue a call for additional trooi)s, which all 
knew were absolutely necessary to prosecute the war 
successfullv. 



22 THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 

"It was at this conference that Curtin suggested a 
meeting of the loyal Governors at an early date, and 
that they, speaking for their States, should ask the 
I'resitlent to issue a call for ;>()(),(>()() men, with the 
assurance that the States would promptly respond to 
it. The despairing Secretary of State readily grasped 
so hopeful a proposition, and hefore they separated. 
di>patches were sent to and received from nearly ever\- 
Governor of the North, all of whom heartily joined in 
the movement. The conference was fixed at Altoona, 
and was fully attended, and it was that conference and 
its heroic and patriotic utterance, penned by Andrew 
G. Curtin, and John A. Andrew, of Massachusetts, 
th.at inspired the nation afresh, that promptly filled nj) 
tlie shattered ranks of the armies, and thus saved the 
Re])ublic. 

"In a conversation with the ex-\'ice President of the 
Siuithern Confederacy, some }'ears after the war. he 
told me that the severest blow the South received in 
the early part of the conflict was the Altoona confer- 
ence of the loyal Governors, that rallied the patriotic 
people to the support of their armies when the Soutli 
believed that they had won the decisive battles of the 
war." 

W bile there is no one who could wish to detract 
from tlie noble part played by Governor Curtin in the 
events leading up to the conference, Sprague's part, 
less generally known, places him on the plane with 
Curtin, and a little below Lincoln in the final estimate 



THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 23 



of the great achievement. Some one once said: "By 
far the most interesting news is the news that never 
gets printed." The nnpnbhshed history of the causes 
leading up to the ci inference, as rehUed by (jovcrnor 
Sprague, sliow clearly the parts played by Lincoln, by 
Curtin, and by vSprague himself. Kach was necessary 
to the success of the movement; each ])la}-ed his part 
well. For half a century the country looked upon 
the meeting as a spontaneous outljurst. instead of, as 
it reallv was, one (^f Lincoln's deeply laid coups. Well 
conceived b\- its author, carried out l)y master minds 
like Curtin. Andrew and v^prague, it served its \n\v- 
pose. it sa\'ed the Lhiion. And a nation's gratitude is 
not too much for such heroic men. Our happiness, 
our prosperity, our boundless future, all had their real 
inception that frosty morning on the Alleghenies when 
the Union was saved. All honor to Lincoln, Curtin. 
Sjirague. and Andrew. 



tP'-fP 



VIII. JOY AND SORROW IN LATER YEARS OF 
WILLIAM SPRAGUE. 

GREAT jo}s and great shadows alternated in W'i!- 
liam Spragtie's later years. A good New Eng- 
land ancestry had given him a sound constitution, the 
augury of long life. He came manfully through his 
business and domestic difficulties, the last named being 
settled by the divorce court. He was again looked 
upon as the leading citizen of Rhode Island ; friends 
flocked about him. and eVen strangers sought his ad- 
vice. In LSS;], a new romance came into his life, open- 
ing up fresh vistas of happiness. It seemed as if the 
rich flower of his life was to bloom anew. It was in 
that }ear that occurred his marriage with Inez Weed 
Calvert, of \'irginia, the devoted helpmate of the 
evening of his life. \\'ith renewed hopes he was again 
in the political arena. The Democrats and Independ- 
ents nominated him for Governor of Rhode Island. 
But he failed at the polls by a small majority. After 
that he resolved to stay out of politics and devote him- 
self entirely to his vast business enterprises. He 
became essentially a home man. The gay social life 
with his first wife had brought him only misery. There 
was nothing in it for him. The new wife was all tl:at 
a heartsick man could wish for. Beautiful, rehned. 
gentle antl considerate, she made his home life ideal in 
every sense of the word. "Canonchet" was still the 

24 



THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 



scene of much cnlcrtaininj^-. liut it was all dionillcd iu 
character, and therefore nf less interest to readers of 
the society cnhinins of the ne\\si)a])ers. h'or nearly 
ten years the ])rave old W ar ('.o\ernor, his fiiif head of 
hair growing snow white, pursued the even tenor of 
his way. adniirahly handling his Ijusiness affairs, and 
enjoying the tran(|uility nf a ha])i)y home. Then came 
another holocaust, the dreadful lire which consumed 
"Canonchet," together with all its priceless art treas- 
ures and historic hooks and documents. ])es]iite his 
age. Cjo\'crniir v'^])rague ruslied into the l)urning huild- 
ing. hut was overcome and sank down on the floor un- 
conscious, lirave hremen rescued him, hut it was 
many months hcfore he full}' recovered from the 
shock. A trip to Europe was decided upon, away from 
the scenes of former joys and sorrows. Then came 
another tragedy that so far overshadowed the destruc- 
tion of "Canonchet" as to make it seem insignihcant. 
'J'hat was the sudden death of the War Governor's 
only son. whom he affectionately called "Willie." It 
was a staggering hlow. one frcjm which the veteran 
never fully recovered. Not long after it another ro- 
mance developed in the family. It was the one he- 
tween the deceased son's onl_\' daughter, Inez Sprague. 
and a young Rhode Islander, the son of a noted politi- 
cian, who had been instrvimental in encompassing 
Colonel S])rague's defeat for the Governorsliip in the 
camixiign of l.SS;]. Desiring this grand-daughter's 
ha])])iness above all thing'-, the magnanimous states 



26 THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 

man gave his consent to the marriage. It ended un- 
ha])pily. However, a Httle girl was born, who became 
a )()}• to the old Governor in his last days. In that way 
the unlooked-for romance brought its compensations. 
Ihit the world did not seem as gay as of yore, his 
friends were dying fast. The home was gone. Life 
in Europe seemed the panacea for many disappoint- 
ments; so. accompanied by his devoted wife, William 
Sprague removed to Paris, leasing an elegant abode on 
the Rue de la I'ompe. not far -from the residence of 
their dearest friends. Captain and Mrs. Frank H. 
Mason, the former the doyen of the American Con- 
sular Service. 



UFIP' 




JOHN A. ANDREW, 
Governor of Massachusetts, 1862. 



IX. ALTOONA IS PROUD OF BEING LOCA- 
TION. 

IX Altoona lliere has always been intense local pride 
over the fact tliat the fanunis conference was 
held there. 

Hon. J. D. llicks. former member of Congress and 
one of Altoona's foremost citizens, has summed up the 
results of the conference in the following words : 

"Xo incident in the ci\-il jjliases of the ]\el)ellion is 
more notable than what was known as the Altoona 
conference. It took ])lace at the darkest hour of the 
war. Apart from one or two successes in the west — 
Donelson, for instance, the South had shown liersclf in 
the held masterful and dominant. Lee had inflicte<l 
upon us the disasters of ]\Ianasses. had driven .Mc- 
Clellan from the Peninsula, and our armies under 
Pope were huddling under the Washington fortirica- 
tions. Antietam proved to be a drawn Ijattle, a check 
to the South, but not in any fruitful sense a victory to 
the Xorth. European ])owers. headed by Xa]:)oleon 
111, were proposing intervention. Over the Xorth 
spread a sentiment of despair, intensihed by the abnor- 
mal activity of that large section of the Xorth which 
sympathized with the Confederacy and would have 
rejoiced in its success. 

There was an impatience with President Lincoln in 
Commonwealths like .Massachusetts and \'ernionl 



27 



28 THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 



They saw a supposed lassitude on the question of 
slavery. New York, a commercial State, with her own 
special interests always in view, had been proud, re- 
served and indifferent. There was, furthermore, in 
Xevv ^'ork, a volcanic element, menacing, resenting 
the war, threatening mutin}-. and soon to break out iiUo 
those wanton draft riots, ever to Ije deplored as the 
one ignominious experience of the war. 

Curtin. ever an optimist, ever worshiping the Union 
with an almost Oriental fervor, enthusiastic, untiring, 
magnanimous and resolute, always seeing with the eye 
of the statesman and from Pennsylvania's point of 
\-ie\v. that prudence was tlie highest wisdom, and that 
the Union would only ])e i)reserved by reconciling the 
opinions and consolidating the forces that composed 
the Union, divined the thought that Mr. Lincoln could 
have no surer support than that would come from a 
conference between the ( governors of the loyal States. 
It would at least result in a frank and genuine ex- 
change of opinions, the attainment of a common 
ground upon which the North could stand as a unit. 
The suggestion of Governor Curtin was the genius of 
compromise and common sense. He saw, as Henry 
Clav had seen before him, that in compromise alone 
could the ultimate success of the Union cause be at- 
tained. 

The onlv known record of this conference is that of 
Governor Austin lUair, of Michigan. The Governor 
deemed it desirable that the story should be told by 



THE LAST OP THE WAR GOVERNORS. 29 

one of tlidsc who took part in it. It was wliolly ])ri\ate 
and informal. Xo records were kcjil of its oljjccts or 
il> d()in,^s. and no re])orters were present to i^ive to 
the ])nblic wliat was said and done. The only history 
attainable, tlierefore. rests upon the memory of the 
gentlemen wh.o took i)art. 

There was no formal (trganizatiiai, no secretary, and 
no record even made at the time of the names of those 
l)resent who formed the conference. 

As will he >een, there were Governors of the loyal 
Stales absent, because <if public reasons, but in entire 
-\-m])ath\-. The majority of them were present, and 
took i)art in the deliberations. The names of twelve 
of those api)ear attached to the address to President 
Lincoln, and some of them subscribed after the ad- 
journment. 

The invitati n and corresi)ondence were by tele- 
graph entirel}-. and began at the instance of Governor 
Curlin. addressed to Governor John A. Andrew, of 
.Massachusetts, dated v^eptember (i, ^S^\•>. as follows: 

"In the present emergency, would it not be well it 
th.e l(i\-al Governors should meet at some point in the 
Ix.rder States to take measures for a more active sup- 
port of the government?" 

To this Goxernor .\n(h-ew rei)lied on the same daw 
that, should a meeting be called, he would attend. 

( )n the I lib day of September, ISi;-?. a call was 
issued in these words : 



30 THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 

"We invite a meeting of the Governors of the loyal 
States, to he held at Altoona, Pennsylvania, on the 
twentv-fourth instant." 

A. G. CuKTiN, Pennsylvania. 

David Tod, Ohio. 

F. H. PiEEPONT, \'irginia. 

In response to this invitation a meeting was held at 
.\ltoona, Pennsylvania, on the twenty-fourth day of 
Septemher, 1862, at which meeting an address was 
drawn up to the President of the United States, which 
was signed hy twelve Governors of the loyal States, as 
follows : 

A. G. CinrriN. 

John A. Andkew\ 

RicHAKD Yates. 

Israel Washbuun, Jr. 

Edward Salomon. 

Samuel J. Kiekwood. 

O. P. Morton (by D. G. Rose^ his representative). 

WiLLL\M Sprague. 

F. H. PlERPONT. 

David Tod. 

N. S. Berry. 

Austin Blair. 

The document was then sent to the Governors who 
were unable to be present for their signatures. 

Governor Ogden, of New Jersey, declined to sign 
the address. Governor Gibbs, of Oregon, and Gov- 
ernor Robinson, of Kansas, assented to the sentiments 



THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 31 



contained tliereiii. Gcivernor Gamble, of Missouri, 
declined on account of his '■ai)])reliension of any good 
from tile I'roclamation of the Emancipation.'' (^lov- 
ernor Ro])inson, of Kentuck\-, ai)|)rove<l of many of 
the sentiments contained in the address, but dissented 
from that portii^i which endorsed the Emancipation 
Proclamation, (jovernor Ramsey, of Minnesota, as- 
sented to the address. Governor Borden, of Delaware, 
declined to sign the same, not believing in the Emanci- 
])ation Proclamation. Governor Buckingham, of Con- 
necticut, ai)proved the address, as well as Governor 
llolbrook, of X'ermont. Governor Morgan, of New 
"S'ork, dissented, because "it would be more in accord- 
ance with his sense of ]jropriety to express his views 
in another manner than subscribing to the proceedings 
of a meeting at wliich he had not been present." 

Several days later Governor Andrew read the ad- 
dress to President Lincoln. The President made a 
short and pleasant reply. 

After the address had been presented, and the reply 
of President Lincoln had been made, Governor Kirk- 
wood, of Iowa, addressed the President, opposing the 
continuance of General GeiM-ge 15. McClellan. Con- 
siderable discussion was had between the President 
and the ( governors. "" 



X. STORY OF THE CONFERENCE AS TOLD 
BY THE TRIBUNE. 

A TERSE description of tlie results of the Confer- 
ence of Loyal \\'ar Governors was given as fol- 
lo\\> in the Altoona Trihune, mider date of Septeniher 
•^4, 1!)12: 

The conference was informal. There were no 
newspaper men i)resent ; tliere was no secretary- and 
there was no minutes of the proceedings recorded. It 
was held just two days after President Lincoln had 
issued the Proclamation of Emancipation. Altoona 
was chosen as the meeting place because it was cen- 
tral to those governors who had accepted tlie invita- 
tion sent out by (jovernors A. G. Curtin. of Penn.syl- 
vania ; David Tod, of Ohio, and F. IL l'ier])ont, of 
\'irginia. It was held in the famous old Logan 
house and those of our citizens who remember the 
most notable civic event (^f the rebellion and gazed 
upon the assemblage through the windows, sa_\- that 
the governors were a lot of dignified and solemn look- 
ing men. The}- were in the city two days — Septem- 
ber '2;> to 24 — and on tb.e following day. September 
■2.-), presented their framed address to President Lin- 
coln at the White House in Washington. 

On September G, 1862, Governor Curtin presented 
the matter of a conference of the governors of the 
loval states to Governor Andrew, of Massachusetts. 



32 



THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 33 



lie ai)|)rc)ve(l the jilan and on September 1 1. the invi- 
tations were despatched l)y wire, for a conference 
in Ahoona on Se])teml)er '.M. In response to this call 
twehe <4-o\ernor> assemlded in the Logan house, and 
they were: Curtin. of Pennsylvania; Tod, of Ohio; 
rierpont. of X'ir^inia; Washburn, of Maine; Andrew, 
of .Massachusetts; Siirague, of l\h(.)de Island; lierr}-, 
ni Xcw Hampshire; Morton, id' Indiana; ^'ates, of 
Illinois; Blair, of .Michigan; Salomon, of Wisconsin, 
and Kirkwood, of Iowa. Of these Governors. Ijut one 
survives — William Sprague. of Rhode Island. 

Governor Austin Idair.of Michigan, was a Xew 
York bo}', who had gone west, grew up with tlie state 
and ])ecanic its chief executive. He was the historian 
of tile conference. \\ hen its semi-centennial anniver- 
sar\- was a]:)proaching, Altoona people began plan- 
ning f(;r its fitting celebration. From the family of 
Go\-ernor lUair, was secured his manuscript of the 
stor_\- of the conference that he had written for publi- 
catiim. While comidete in facts, it is likely incom- 
plete in detail. Me gave nu the task in his older days 
and likeh', had he completed the storw it would have 
been one of greater detail .and interest and disclosed 
the far-reaching effect of the conference and possibly 
more in detail of the part pla\ed l)\- the various gov- 
ernors preseiU. The story as written by Governor 
I '.lair follows: 



34 THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 

Preamble. 

"It has been thought desirable that the story of this 
conference should be told by one of those who par- 
ticipated in it, and it is the object of this paper to 
meet that desire as fully as the material at our dis- 
posal will permit. 

The conference was wholly informal and no record 
seemed to have been kept either of its objects or its 
doings, and, therefore, its history rests mainly in the 
memory of the governors who attended it. 

The Call. 

The call for the conference originated with Gov- 
ernor Andrew G. Curtin to Governor John A. Andrew, 
of Massachusetts, on September (i, ]8G2. as follows: 

'In the present emergency would it not be well that 
the loyal governors should meet at some point in the 
border states to take measures for the more active 
support of the government ?' 

To this. Governor Andrew replied on the same 
day that should any meeting be called he would at- 
tend. (In the 14-th of September the call was issued 
in these words : 

'W'e invite a meeting of the Governors of the loyal 
states to be held in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on the 2UU 
inst.' 

This call was sent to all the governors by telegraph 
and was accepted by most of them. It was signed by 
Andrew G. Curtin, of Pennsylvania; David Tod, of 
Ohio, and F. H. Pierpont, t^f \'irginia. 



THK LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 35 



Reason for the Conference. 

The siluation of the country at the time unil(nil)t- 
edly occasioned this call and the conference that 
followed. The canipaii^n nf |S(;-j had opened in 
the spring with hrilliant prospects for the union 
army. General McClellan with a great arniv carefully 
t)rganized and drilled, and >])len(lidl\- equipped and 
sujjplied, had started out to capture the cmi federate 
capital. From thi> army and its commander, the 
people had ex])ected the grandest results — no less than 
the speedy fall of the confederate capital and the col- 
lapse of the rehellion. Mow completely these antici- 
pations were disappointed! How failure was after- 
wards written upon every movement of this army 
nil until its iinal retreat to the James river and back- 
to Washington, is current history now. The gloom 
that overs])reacl the loyal states on account of these 
di^aster^, the nioxement of General Lee's \ictorious 
army north for the inva>i(in of the border states, occa- 
sioned great de]M-ession in the public mind. It was 
then that the confereiice of tlie governors was called 
to meet what seemed to be a great emergency. To 
insi)ire the j)eo])le again with confidence, to fill the 
depleted ranks of the army with new recruits, and to 
add new armies, if need be. to the immense forces al- 
ready in the field. 

The Loyal Governors. 

'iMie breaking out of the great rebellion in 
April, 1S(il. immediately brought the (lovernors of 



36 THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 

the loyal states into great prominence. Ui)on them 
devolved the raising of all the troops called for Ijy the 
president in defense of the government. To t'nem 
directly every call was sent. 

The}' enlisted the volunteers, organized them into 
regiments, commissioned all the officers and sent them 
so organized to the front. The importance of this 
service could not he overestimated. It brought the 
loyal governors at once into very close touch and inti- 
mate relation with the president, and the secretary of 
war. 'i'hey became, many of them, trusted advisers 
of the president and in all matters relating to the war 
and especially to the raising of troops in their several 
states. They were deeply interested in the quotas in 
their state and were in the habit of visiting the de- 
partments in W'ashingtnn where these Cjuotas were 
discussed. 

Conventions among themselves were very frequent- 
ly held in a perfectly informal manner as they came 
together in Washington upon similar errands. Before 
the actual commencement of the war, a conference 
of the governors of the northwestern states was called 
by Governor Dennison, of Ohio, at Cleveland, which 
was attended by the governors of Indiana, Illinois, 
[Michigan and Wisconsin, or their representatives. It 
was then that some of us heard for the first time of 
General George B. ^IcClellan, whom Governor Denni- 
son told us, he had secured to be major general of 
the Ohio troops. 



THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 37 

^Ir. r.reelov in liis l)ook, '•Tlio American Con- 
Hicl." lias a plate including iiicUircs of seventeen 
eminent loyal governors, as he styles them. 'I'he 
plate does not include (|uite all of ihem. but most of 
them whose names were oftenest heard. 

Effect of the Conference. 

.\> lo what effect the conference had upon th.c 
country and upon the administration is mainly a 
matter of inference. That it had some intluence in 
restoring the confidence of the people in the ability 
of the government to sustain itself is undoubted. That 
it promoted enlistments in the states and infused 
greater activity into the recruiting service and tended 
greatlv to strengthen the armies in the field and t.) 
silence discontent among the disloyal elements in the 
states there can he no doubt. 

It was alst) very evident at the time that the unani- 
mous agreement of the loyal governors to sustam the 
administration in its efforts to increase the army 
ra])idlv and promote its strength both in numbers and 
activity was very gratefid to the president and not 
by anv means without its intluence upon the policy of 
the administration. 

There had existed from the commencement of the 
war a considerable i^arty in the northern states who 
professed to believe that the >outh could not be con- 
quered, but that at last a compromise would have to 
be made that would leave to the south its institutions 



38 THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 

of slavery entact and with more efificient guarantees 
for its protection in the future. This party was 
greatly encouraged hy the failure of McClellan in the 
Peninsular campaign and the disasters that followed 
it. The unanimity and vigorous address of the con- 
ference in favor of a more vigorous prosecution of 
the war together with the Emancipation Proclamation 
of the president, had a great effect to shut the mouths 
and paralyze the eft'orts of this so-called peace partv. 

Some ill-informed persons asserted that the call for 
tlie conference had occasioned the issue of the Eman- 
cipation Proclamation though the Proclamation itself 
was issued and published two days in the country 
liefore the conference assembled, 'i'his was certain]}' 
net true. It was well understood by all men at all 
conversant with the views of President Lincoln that 
he had for a long time contemplated the Proclamation 
and only waited for a favorable occasion to put it 
forth. 

On the 25th of June, ISfil, the conscription ]>ill 
being under consideration, a discussion occurred in 
congress upon this subject. It was begun by Air. 
Mallory, a member of the Piouse of Representatives 
from Kentucky. He was attacking the policy of tlie 
administration in regard to slavery and in that con- 
nection said : 

"A set of factious governors from northern states, 
after having, in conjunction with leading radical trait- 
ors, in vain argued and pressed the president to change 



THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 39 



Ill's policy, met at Altoona, in tlic >tate nf Pennsylva- 
nia, and informed the president that nnless his ]jolicy 
Avas changed, nnless the extermination of slavery was 
made the object and pnrpose of the war and not the 
restoration of the anthority of the constitution and 
laws over the rehellious states, that if slavery was 
not put in process of extirpation, they would stop the 
war; tliat not one of their states would rally to the 
standard we had raised for the purpose of vindicating 
the constitution and the laws; then, as if by magic, the 
jiolic}- of the government ch.anged. 1 say. Air. Speak- 
er, that it was that meeting of factious governors at 
Altoona and the pressure they then brought to bear, 
and had previously with others brought to bear, on the 
])resident of the United States, who is weaker than a 
man ought to l)e wdio sits at the head of our govern- 
ment and holds the reins of power in a nation like the 
United States, that caused him to .abandon his original 
policy, which was successfid, which was admiral )le and 
to take up that other which has failed and which gen- 
tlemen on the other side acknowledge to have failed." 

How utterly ridiculous this was full\' appears in the 
preceding portion of this article. It is evident that 
Mr. Mallory knew nothing trul\- concerning the con- 
ference at Altoona; had nc\er read the address to the 
president nor considered the fact that the Proclama- 
tion was issued before the conference assembled and 
was, in fact, the act of the jiresident alone. 

Jlefore the discussion closed .Mr. I'.outwell. of Ma.>- 



40 THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 



sachusetts, corrected the theory of the gentleman from 
Kentucky fully, except that ]\Ir. Boutwell also fell 
into the error of admitting that the conference assem- 
bled at Altoona previous to the 22nd of September, 
whereas, in fact, it did not assemble until the 24th 
day of v'^eptember. two days after the Proclamation 
was issued. l]ut his statement that the conference 
had nothing to do with the issuing of the Proclamation 
was entirely true. 

The whole history of that Proclamation, its consid- 
eration by the president and his cabinet and its final 
issue on the 22nd of September, ]8(i2, is now well 
known as a matter of current history. 

Governor Curtin states that he first suggested 
action by the governors of the loyal states to \\'illiam 
H. Seward, secretary of state. This occurred in the 
city of New York immediately after the disaster in 
the peninsula. The Governor was in New York and 
Air. Seward sent for him and they met at the Astor 
house. ~Sh\ Seward had with him the mayor of Phil- 
adelphia, had called upon the mayor of New York 
and was intending to visit Boston to interest the mayor 
of that city also ujxin some plan for increasing of 
the army and for a more vigorous prosecution of the 
war. 

At this interview the Governor suggested to Air. 
Seward that it would be better that the governors of 
the loyal states should request the president to call for 
additional troops and recommend to him a more vig- 



THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 



(irons prosecution of the war. They telegraphed to 
Mr. Lincohi and he warmly approved of the plan. All 
the governors that were known to he friendly were 
immediately communicated with and api)roved the 
movement. Governor Andrew, of Massachusetts, at 
first hesitated to join in the movement, hut he after- 
wards waived this and heartily assented. Thus the 
call originated and was ]iromulgated. 

Object and Purpose. 

It lias alread}- heen made to appear ver_\' clearly 
what was the purpose of this conference. Xo ])artic- 
ular puhlicity was given to the call at the time. 
It was sent hy telegraph to the several governnrs and 
it had no other object than those stated in the paper 
signed by the governors of Pennsylvania, Ohio and 
Virginia. It was, however, set forth in very general 
terms and was intended, no doubt, to allow a great 
latitude to those wdio should attend the conference in 
reaching conclusions as to wdiat should be recommend- 
ed to the president in the way of a more \'igorous 
prosecution of the war. 

Probably a majorit\' of the Governors believed 
that the time had fully arrived for proclaiming the 
freedom of the slaves and that question might fairly 
have been considered by the conference. Many sub 
jects were discussed that are not mentioned in tin 
address. Governor Kirkwood. of Iowa, in an article 
recently published in the Iowa Historical Record. sa\s : 



42 THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 



"We discussed the condition of military affairs and 
especially the fitness of General McClellan's military 
command. On this point there was some difference of 
opinion that the public welfare would be promoted by 
his retirement from the command of the A.rmy of the 
Potomac. Uut, as there was not the same accord of 
opinion as there was in regard to the Emancipation 
Proclamation, it was decided that the address should 
not include any expression of opinion in regard to 
General McClellan and that we should go to Washing- 
ton, and on the 25th day of September the governors 
called in a body upon President Lincoln at the White 
Ifouse. They were received very kindly and heartily 
l)v the president in his usual manner. Governor John 
.\. Andrew, of Massachusetts, read the address in full, 
as follows : 

Address to the President Read by Governor Andrew. 

To THK Pkesidknt : Adoj^ted at a meeting of 
(lovernors of loyal States, held to take measures 
for the more active support of the Government, at 
Altoona. Pennsylvania, on the twenty-fourth day of 
September, 1862. 

After nearly one year and a half spent in contest 
with an armed and gigantic rebellion against the Na- 
tional Government of the United States, the duty and 
purpose of the loyal States and people continue, and 
must always as they were at its origin — namely, to 
restore and perpetuate the authority of this Govern- 



THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 43 



mcnt and the life of tlic nation. No matter what con- 
setjuences are involxed in nur lidchty, its work ot" re- 
storing the repnhhc, i)reser\in,^- the institutions of tlie 
democratie liberty, and justifying- the hopes and toil.-^ 
of our fathers, shall not fail to be performed. 

And we pledge, without hesitation, to the President 
of tile United States the most loyal and cordial suj)- 
port, hereafter, as heretofore, in the exercise of the 
functions of his great office. We recognize in liini the 
chief executive magistrate of the nation, the Com- 
mander-in-Chief of the -Army and Xavy of the United 
States, tlieir responsilde and constitutional head, 
whose riglitful authorit_\- and power, as well as the 
constitutional powers of Congress, must be vigorously 
and religiously guarded and observed, as the condition 
on which alone our form of government and the con- 
stitutional rights and liljerties of the people them- 
selves can be saved from the wreck of anarchy, from 
the gulf of des]iotism. 

The submission to the laws which ma_\- ha\'e l)een, 
or which may be duly enacted, and to the lawful 
orders of the I'resident, co-operating always in our 
own s]^heres with the National Government, we mean 
to continue in the most \'igorous exercise of all our 
lawful and proper powers, contending against treason, 
rebellion and tlie ])ul)lic enemies, and whether in ])ul)lic 
life or jjrivate station, sui)]K)rting the arms of the 
Union until its cause shall con(|uer, until final victory 
shall perch upon it> -standard or the rebel foe shall, 
yield a dutiful, rightful and unconditional submission. 



44 - THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 



And. impressed with the conviction that an army 
of reserve ought, until the war shall end, to be con- 
stantly kept on foot, to he raised, armed, equipped 
and trained at home, and read}- for emergencies, we 
resi)ect fully ask the I'resident to call for such a force 
(if volunteers, for one year's service, of not less than 
one hundred thousand in the aggregate, the quota of 
each State to be raised after it shall have hlled its 
quota of the requisitions already made, both for volun 
teers and militia. We believe that this would be a 
measure of militar}- prudence, while it would greatly 
])romote the military education of the people. 

We hail with heartfelt gratitude and encouraged 
hoi)e the Proclamation of the I'resident, issued on the 
twenty-second instant, declaring Emancipation from 
their bondage all persons held to service or labor as 
slaves in the rebel States, whose rebellion shall last to 
the first day of January n(nv next ensuing. The right 
of any jjerson to retain authority to compel any por- 
tion of the subjects of the Xational Government, to 
rebel against it, or to maintain its enemies, implies in 
those who are allowing possession of such authority 
to rebel themselves ; and therefore the right to estab- 
lish martial law or military government in a State or 
Territory in rebellion implies the right and the duty 
of the (jovernment to liberate the minds of all men 
living therein b}' apprijpriate in-oclamations, and assur- 
ances of protection, in order that all who are capable, 
intellectually and morally, of the loyalty and obedi- 
ence ma\- not be forced into treason as the unwilling 



THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. ' 45 



tools of rebellions traitors. To have continued indeli- 
nilely ll;e most etVicieiU canoes, supjjorl and sta\' of tlie 
rei:elli(in. would lia\e been, in our jud_c;nicnl, unjust 
to the loyal jieople whose treasure and lives are made 
a willin,^' sacrifice on the altar of patriotism — would 
ha\-e iliscriminated as^ainst tin- wife who is com])elle(l 
to surrender her luisl)and. ayainst the ])areent who 
is to surrender bis child to the bardsbi])s of cam]) and 
th.e ])erils of battle, in favor of rel)el masters |)ermilte(l 
to retain their slaves. It would haw Ijeen a linal 
decision alike against hunianit}', justice, the rights and 
dignity of the Government, and against sound and wi>e 
national i)olicy. The decision (U' the President to 
strike at the root of the reliellion will lend new vigor 
to the eti'orts and new life and hope to the hearts of 
the peoi)le. Ci)rdially tendering to the President our 
res])ectful assurance of personal and official conh- 
dence. we trust and believe that the ])olicy now inau- 
gurated will l.e crowned with success, will give speed}- 
and triumphant \ictories ox-er our enemies, and secure 
for this nation and this people the blessing and favor 
of Almighty (lod. We believe that the blood of the 
heroes who ha\-e already fallen, and tho>e who ma_\- 
yet gi\'e their lix'es to tlieir countr_\-, will not ba\-e been 
shed in \-ain. 

The splendid valor of our soldiers, their ])atienl en- 
durance, their manly |)ati"iotism, and their dexotion to 
(hUy, demand from us, and all their countrxinen, the 
homage of the sincerot gratitude and the pledge of 
our constant reinforcement and support. A just re- 



THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 



gard for the brave men whom we have contributed 
to place in the field, and for the importance of the 
duties which may lawfully pertain to us hereafter, has 
called us into friendly confidence. And now, present- 
ing our National Chief Magistrate this conclusion of 
our deliberations, we devote ourselves to our country's 
service, ai d VnC will surround the President with our 
constant support, trusting that the fidelity and zeal of 
the loyal States and people will always assure him 
that he will be constantly maintained in pursuing with 
the utmost vigor the war for the preservation of 
national life and the hopes of humanity. 

A. G. CuRTiN, Pennsylvania. 

John A. Andkew, Massachusetts. 

RicHAiii) Yates, Illinois. 

IsiiAEL WASHBUitN^ Jr., Maine. 

Edward Salomon, W'isconsin. 

Samuel J. Kirk wood, Iowa. 

O. P. Morton (by D. G. Ross, his 
representative), Indiana. 

William Sprague, Rhode Island. 

F. H. PiERPONT, Mrginia. 

David Tod, Ohio. 

N. S. Berry, New Hampshire. 

Austin Blair, Michigan. 
It was disposed of, however, by the Proclamation 
of the President before the conference assembled. 

On the twenty-fourth day of September, in pursu- 
ance of the call, the Governors met in Altoona. In the 
meantime the situation had greatly changed. The 



THE LAST OP THE WAR GOVERNORS. 47 



skies had brightened and the hopes of the loyal people 
liad re\ived. 

( )n the seventeenth dav of September, l.S()"i, the 
great l)attle of Antietani had been fought and a sul) 
stantial victor\- won. (^icneral Lee was retreating, an! 
the Proclamation of Emancijiatinn had l)een issued on 
the "v^'.M of Septemlier. \S^^2. The clanger was ncV 
])asNed l)y any means, for Lee had got aw^ay with his 
arm\- still in fair condition. 

The conference was wholly informal and no records 
ni its actions were kept, but its results were embodied 
in an address to the President, which was drawn u|) 
by (lovernor .Andrew and signed by most of the Gov- 
ernors i)resent, and it was afterwards sent to tho^e 
who were not able to attend, with a request to sign, if 
they ap])roved of it." 

Thus ends Governor P)lair"s ])rief l)ut lurid narrative 
of the conference. 



Personnel of Conference. 

John ]\ussell ^■(lung, in s])eaking of the personnel 
of the conference, said: 

"There was Sprague, of Rhode Island, the l'0_\- of 
the Cduference. and witli some sad ihought and fanc_\- 



48 THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 



the last survivor of the company. Head of one of the 
great manufacturing institutions of Xew England, 
'wearing a military fatigue cap.' says a Xew York 
rej^orter, looking like a boy of eighteen, silent, taciturn, 
famous for a personal courage under hre whicli he 
h.ad shown at lUill Run. an original, intrepid, if not at 
times an eccentric genius." ^'oung, in speaking of the 
adjournment of the conference to meet in Washington. 
says: "It was also resolved that the Governors should 
visit Washington and meet President Lincoln, and that 
each should be at liliert}- to say to him what he 
tliiiught best on that or any other subject. The Al- 
toona conference adjourned on the second day of its 
meeting, to meet again in A\'ashington on the ext day. 
In pursuance of that resolution the Governors visited 
Washington and called on ]\Ir. Lincoln in a bod}-. 
President Lincoln received the Governors and the in- 
terview was entirely private. There were no reporters 
l)resent. not even the President's secretaries. No re- 
port of wdiat occurred or what was said at the inter- 
view was made public outside of the address, which 
was read to President Lincoln by Governor Andrew. 
After the Washington meeting the address was sent to 
all the loyal Governors. Governor Sprague accepted 
the same day." 

Thus it will l)e seen that Sprague was in conference 
with the President at the earliest inception of the con- 
ference, and remained with him until it had been fully 
accomplished. If it had failed, doubtless he would 
have taken tlie Idame. lUit few ideas from the brain 




D. HICKS. 



THE LAST OP THE WAR GOVERNORS. 49 



i>f Unci In and ai)i)n)\f(l 1)\- tlic l)rain nf Curlin fell 
-^lUln ol" C()rrectnc'>>. 

Reminiscences. 

'I'he .Xltiuma Trii)une, date uf Saturday. August 
".M. 1!M"J. ct)ntains, sonic interesting personal remin- 
iscences of the conference, from the lips of one of tlie 
eye\\itne-;>es. The article runs as follows: 

'■Chairman j. 1). 1 licks, in opening the meeting, 
introduced to the committee 'Sciuire John Markley, of 
Juniata, who. as a l.oy. peered u])on the famous con- 
ference of (jovernors at the l.ogan House in 1S()2. 
lie was liorn in liald l^agle X'alle}- on April i>, ISH. 
and .settled in Logan Townshi]) in lS(i"2. Mr. Alarkley. 
in relating his stor}- of the meeting, stated that it oc^ 
ciu-red in the room now occuijied as a parlor in the 
Logan House. Me said: 

"■J was \er_\- much agitated ahout the war at the 
time the famous meeting was held here. 1 had almost 
gi\en up the Union side, and was much distressed the 
way the war was going. 1 cried and e\'en ])rayed for 
the success of the I'nion army; it was all 1 could do. 
heing hut a hoy fifteen years of age at the time. 1 
did m\- duty and worked at home for the support of 
my peo])le. In iSdv?, in September, as a boy, 1 worked 
in the h'lias Laker mill, at \lleglien\- I'urnace. and one 
evening, after work. Mr. I'arks sent me to .Mtomia fi>r 
ti grate for an old egg sto\e. 1 went to X'irginia Street 
(now Lle\enth Avenue), ])etween hdeveiith and 



50 THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 



Twelfth Streets, for the grate, and. after getting it. 
started for home, but was attracted by a crowd at the 
Logan House. Going into the crowd, I asked what 
was going on, and was tohl that the Governors were 
talking over the war. and, having a desire to see what 
a Governor looked like, I worked my way to a window 
and looked in. What I saw was a l)ody of men seated 
about a table. They seemed in deep thought and 
appeared a sober and intelligent lot of men. I liioked 
quite a while, antl was impressed with the manner in 
which they were conducting themselves. \nu could 
not hear what they were saying. While I was watch- 
ing them, some one said to me : 'You're a boy from the 
country?' and when I answered that I was, a 
man told me that a crowd of city boys were going to 
^Yhip me. I took my grate and started for home, and 
on the way out of the crowd met and asked a young 
man if he was one of the fellows who was going to 
whip me, and when he said that he was not, 1 went on 
home. ] understand that there were one or two others 
that looked in upon the Governors at that time. In 
closing T want to say that 1 wish that all of you will 
ever keep in mind and heart the love of the Stars and 
Stripes." 

The Altoona Gazette, date of June ^2. lOLi, contain' 
another interesting reminiscence of the stirring event. 
It is as follows : 

"Among the prominent citizens of Altoona who were 
here in September, LS(>2, and have a distinct recollec 




JOHN MARKLEY. 



THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 51 



tidii oi the events in connection with the famous con- 
ference of the Lo\al War Governors, soon to be fit- 
tingly celebratech is Michael 15. McGrath, the well- 
known coal dealer at lOOG Green Avenue. Mr. Mc- 
(n-ath was not a resident of this city at that time, but 
lie was here the entire time the conference was in 
session. 

.\t the time of the Civil War. Air. McGrath resided 
in the Ih'oad Top region, in the southern part of Hunt- 
ingdon County. Then, as always, he manifested a 
great interest in pul)lic affairs. Intensely interested 
and loyal to the I'nion cause, Mr. McGrath kept in 
close touch with events on the field and in the realms 
of statesmanshi]). and when he learned that the Gov- 
ernors would meet in Altoona he resolved to come 
here, where he could come into contact with some of 
th.e leading spirits of the Union cause. 

It was a time of the deepest gloom and depression 
tliroughout tlie North, "^'ou have no idea of the 
sense of dei)ression that pervaded the loyal people of 
the .\orth at that time," said Mr. McGrath today, in 
speaking of the events which were transpiring then, to a 
representative of the Gazette. "Our armies had met 
with reverses everywhere, sadness pervaded many 
homes, and owing to the high prices that prevailed, 
and the fact that the mainstays of many families were 
in the army, thousands of families were suffering for 
the necessities of life, and it was necessary for others 
to contribute to their supjjort. 



52 THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 



"As soon as I learned that the Governors were to 
meet in Altoona, I resolved to come over so that T 
could get in close touch with the situation. When I 
came here I heard man}' rumors as to the possible 
ccnirse the Governors would pursue. One of the 
rumors was to the effect that thev would make a strong 
ajipeal for peace and bring the war to a close on the 
])est terms possible. I afterwards learned that of all 
the Governors who were here there were but seven 
who entertained ideas of making proposals for peace, 
and they only favored it on the condition that had been 
prescribed by President Lincoln, of the restoration of 
the Union. Leading spirits of the conference were 
Governors Curtin, of Pennsylvania; Andrew, of 
Massachusetts, and ]\Iorton, of Indiana. W'e on the 
outside soon learned that these three men were for a 
vigorous prosecution of the war. and thus there was 
no surprise when it was announced at the close of the 
conference that they had resolved to stand by the 
President and the National Government, with the men 
and resources of the States of which they were the 
heads." 

Mr. McGrath states that he has a distinct recollec- 
tion of Governors Curtin, Andrew and Morton. Curtin 
and Andrew were handsome men and were conspicu- 
ous among the throng about the Logan House when 
the conference was not in session. Morton was any- 
thing but handsome, but he was a big man, physically 
and intellectually, and was always the center of a 
group about the Logan Mouse while he was here. Mr. 




M. B. McGRATH. 



THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 53 

McGrath says that lie remcmhcrs .Morton's denuncia- 
tions of some of the Union (lenerals whom he oensurcfl 
for the reverses the army had sustained, particularly 
C'^eneral ro])e, who had just l)een defeated by Cieneral 
Lee at the second hattle of Ihill Run. Despite Alc- 
Clellan's reverses in the ^enin^ular campaign, it was 
generally believed that he was tlie man to retain as the 
leader of the army. 

"Along with the (Governors, there were many army 
otficers here on that occasion." says Mr. McCirath. 
"Some of them were memljers of the Governors" 
statTs, some were recruiting ol^cers and provost mar- 
shals in this section, and others were officers home on 
leave of absence after tlie battle of Antietam. All 
were in uniform, and some of them bore evidence of 
service on the tield of battle. 

"The greatest interest was manifested by the people 
throughout this section in the proceedings of the con- 
ference. While the people were hoping that there 
might be a wa}- found to Ijring the strife to a close, 
there was no inclination among the loyal people to yield 
an\- ])rinciple for which the Xorth was fighting. Peace 
a[ an\ ])rice was only adxanced by those whose sympa- 
thies were with the South, of whom there were many 
in every Xorthern community." 

Si)eaking of some of the other events of war times, 
Mr. McGrath said that far more humiliating to the 
loyal people than the loss of any battle was the neces- 
sarv surrender by our Government of the Southern 



54 THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 



envoys to Great Britain. Mason and Sliclell. sent by the 
South tu that nation. They had been taken prisoners 
by the commander of a Union vessel, and, although it 
was felt that the Government did right in giving them 
uj). and thus averting a war with England, it was. 
nevertheless, very humiliating. "In those days," says 
-Mr. AlcGrath. "there was a deep-seated hatred of 
England among Americans in general and the Irish 
])eople, who prior to the war, had come over to this 
country by tens of thousands and all of whom were 
devoted to the E'nion cause, there would have been no 
regret if the opportunity had offered to strike a IjIow 
at England." 

Mr. McGrath has a very retentive memory and has 
a very distinct recollection of the events that occurred 
here fifty years ago. He says that he can scarcely 
realize that half a century has gone by since then and 
he looks forward with much interest to the coming" 
jubilee. 

D. K. Howe, one of the city's highly respected and 
esteemed citizens and who has spent many years of 
his life in the upbuilding of the city and its schools, 
gives another reminiscence of the War Governor's 
conference. 

\h-. Howe was but young in years at the time of the 
C(Miference. He heard that the loyal governors were 
in the city and holding a meeting at the Logan House. 
He with some other visited the hotel antl remained 
about for a couple of hours. "I looked in one of the 



THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 55 

\viiuK)\vs and coiuild plainly sec the i^nxcrnors sitting 
and standing about," said Mr. Howe. "They wetx 
talking with each other hut nothing could he heard of 
what the\- were saying. There >eenied to he an air 
of solemnity to the conference and each man carried 
himself as though he was carrying a great weight 
ui)on his shoulders. Governor Curtin seemed to he 
the centre of importance hut there were several others 
who a])parently were taking a great interest in the 
discussion. I rememher one yoimg man, likely Gov- 
ernor Sprague, of Rhode Island, who was walking 
al-.nnt the room, lie seemed l)ut a y(tuth, l)ut his face 
was strong and all his actions seemed marked with the 
lire of patriotism. .\t no time was there a great crowd 
al)out the h.otel for the governors came quietly into 
the citv and as quietly w^ent away. It was not until 
later that the im])ortance of their conference here be- 
came known to the ])ublic. 

Governor Sprague's Letter. 

Following is a letter written in 1 !>!(>, hy Governor 
Sprague to the committee in charge <if the Loyal War 
Governors' Conference Semi-Centennial at .\ltoona : 

"Providence, h'ehruary '.>. 1 :H u.— (kMitlemen :--l 
have lived over again, since recei\ing your various 
communications the days jjreceding and following the 
conference and resolutions of the (^.overnors of the 
loyal states, of whom two-thirds at least were pre.sent 
the 2:\-2\ of September, isc.-J. I can >i)eak of the -.Mth 
(lav onlv. 



56 THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 



"On that day. assembled in a room by ourselves. 
Governor John A. Andrew was nominated and elected 
chairman and directed to formulate the resolution, 
wliich he wrote out in our ])resence, to wit: Re- 
solved. That after the I'roclamation of Emancipation 
is i)romulgated we jjledge the unanimous support of 
our respective states. There was no discussion or re- 
mark, otherwise save its unanimous passage; that each 
governiM- should sign the resolution and the chairman 
send it by telegraph to the President at Washington. 

"In a short time, hardly three-quarters of an hour, a 
telegraph messenger knocked at the door. A governor 
admitted him. lie inquire:! if Governor John A. 
Andrew was present, who responded. A message was 
l^anded him. which he read, then read it aloud. "John 
A. Andrew. Governor of Massachusetts, at Alt(Jona 
Conference of Governors of the Loyal States : The 
Kmancipation Proclamation has been promulgated. 
Come to Washington for further conference. 

A. LINCOLX." 

"Thereupon the Gcn-ernors reassembled or came to 
order. Governor Andrew presiding, and then voted to 
furnish every man and every dollar of our respective 
states to maintain the Union cause; that a committee 
of three governors convey it to the President at Wash- 
ington. There are unnumbered reasons, as facts, to 
show that meeting of its effects made it possible for 
the Union armies to win. Nor is there one fact or 
reason to successfullv controvert it. One of its effects 



THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 57 



was the enlisting of the Negrn as a soldier, while 
Cencral Lee inetTecliially iiri^ed the C'onfederate nm- 
i^ress to give him a like power to enlist the Negro for 
the Confederate serviee. lu'ery non-slaveholder of the 
sonth when the mercenary value of the slave receded, 
hecause cold in their support of the Confederate 
cause. 1 lence it is that no monument as fitting as the 
one ])roposed at Altoona has heen conceived or can he 
otherwise named, to commemorate the greatest ])hase 
of the great conflict. 'I'he Confederate strength waned 
witli the fading away of the mercenary value of the 
slave, and a period was put to the mercenary hent, 
alike of our army and ]X"ople, ])y tliis jiotential adverse 
toucli of the conference oi and resolutions of the 
Loyal Governors at Altoona, Sept. 23-24, 1862. 

A'ery respectfull}-, 

WILLIAM S PRAGUE." 



Ig'TP^ 



58 THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 

Wording of Official Program of the Seml-Centennial 

Loyal War Governors' Conference, Altoona, 

Pa., September 24, 25 and 23, 1912. 



The Altocna Conference. 

Until recently, comparatively few people were 
aware that Altoona was the scene of one of the most 
important events in connection with the Civil war. It 
was an informal conference of governors of a numljcr 
of the northern states. There were no newspaper men 
])resent. The meeting had no secretary, and no min- 
utes of the proceedings were recorded. Coming, c.s 
it did, when the country was talking and reading of 
the Proclamation of Emancipation, issued by Presi- 
dent Lincoln just two days before the conference was 
held, it is not surprising that so little is known of the 
meeting held in the Logan House. Altoona, on Sf^])- 
tember 2i, 1<S(J2. 

With the passing years, however, historians have 
unearthed the details in connection with the meeting 
held in this city, and as the result of the information 
which they have brought to light, it is now generally 
conceded that next to the Proclamation of Emanci- 
pation, the Altoona conference was the most decisive 
civil event of the war. 

To Andrew Gregg Curtin. then governor of Penn- 
svlvania, belongs the credit for conceiving the Altoona 
conference and carrying it into etifect. Almost one 
year and a half had been si)ent in a contest between 




CAPTAIN J. C. LONG. 



THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 59 



the national i^nvcrnmenl of the L'nitcd States and an 
armed j^ngantic rebellion ai^ainst it. It was the darkest 
hour of the war. h'xceptint^' one or two successes in 
the west, the soiuh had shown her-ell in the tiehh 
masterful and dominant. The .Army i>\ the Potomac 
had been defeated in the seven da\s' l-.attle in front of 
Richmond, and Pope had met with disaster on the 
plains of Manasse.s, his arm\- now huddliuii^ under the 
W'a.shington fortifications. The Union forces had 
checked the advance of the south. I)ul >eemed unable 
to win a decisixe \ictory. There wa> a sentiment of 
des])air throughout tlie north, this lieing intensified 
by the abnormal activity of that large section of the 
north which sympathized with the Confederacy and 
would have rejoiced in its success. 

It was in this dark hour that Governor Curtin. with 
a deeper insight into the i)ul)lic heart tlian ])erhaps 
any statesman of the time, saw that what the govern- 
ment needed more than material aid was the moral 
reinforcement that would come from an expression 
of confidence on the ])art of the governors of the loyal 
states. 

On vSepteml)er (I, Governor Curtin presented tlie 
matter to the governors of several adjoining ^tate-, 
and on vSe]nember 1 I, he, in connection with Covernor 
Tod, of Ohio, and Covernor I'ierpont, of N'irginia, is- 
sued a call for a meeting of the gt)vernors to be held at 
Altoona on the '.Mth day of September. In response 
to his call, twelve governors met in the Logan House, 
Altoona. on September '.^1. and. as has been stated. 



GO THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 



there is no official record of the proceedings of that 
conference. It is known that some subjects were pre- 
sented for (Hscussion on which the opinions of the 
governors differed. For instance, tliere was not a 
unanimity of view relative to the Emancipation Procla- 
mation which was issued 1)\- President Lincoln on 
September 22. All the governors present did realize 
the urgent need of their hearty support to the presi- 
dent in the exercise of the functions of his great office, 
and accordingly, on the day of the conference, there 
was prepared an address to the president, in wliich 
the governors tendered their assurance of personal and 
official conhdence, suggesting that he call upon them 
for additional volunteers for the army, and promised 
to surroimd liim with their constant support in his ])ur- 
suit of the war for the preservation of the nation's 
life. 

vSuch is the event whicli Altoona will celebrate on 
Sei)teml)er 2^, 25 and <?(i, of this \ear, the Semi-Cen- 
tennial of the L-oyal War Governors' conference. 
Within the last few years a numljer of citizens who 
have come to realize the importance of the Altoona 
conference have originated a movement to establish in 
the city a permanent memorial in honor of the confer- 
ence. Tlie support of both state and national govern- 
ments will be invited to assist in establishing such a 
memorial, and it is expected that the celebration next 
September will aid largely in the success of the pro- 
posed memorial. It is the purpose of the various com- 
mittees now arranging for the Semi-Centennial Anni- 
versary to make it an event siu'passing any ever seen 



THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 



in this cit\', and rarely cqiialle;! in any city, ("invernnr 
'IV'iier. of 1 'cnn^yl\■ania. Iia-^ already expressed lii> 
w illini^ness ti> lie in AlliKnia tn i)artieii)ale in the celc- 
hration, and to aid in an\- \\a_\- possible iri makiiiii: it 
a success, ['resident Tat't has stated that, in his opin- 
ion, the Altoi na conference was nnc of the most im- 
iu)rtant of the Ci\il war, and has aj^reed to aid in its 
])roi)er celehratii.n at Altoona. .\ninerou> other ])roni- 
incnt men thnni^ln ut the country- have in.dicated their 
interest and their intention ni visiting Altoona to take 
part in th.e celebration. \'ou are cordiall_\- inx'ited to 
])articipate. 

Program. 

Tuesday, September 24 — Home Coming Day. 

\-> Xoon — Opening of Celehration and Reception to 

X'isitors. r>and Concerts. 
I \\ M. — Decorated Automohile Parade. 
:.;>ii I'. Al. — I'.and Concerts, Patriotic Carnival and 
Historical Tahleanx. followed hy Informal Dance. 
Wednesday, September 25 — President and Governors' Day. 
li.:!() A. M.^Parade of Schools and Military. 
;! P. .M. — Pul)lic Meeting in Commemoration df Loyai 

War Governors' Conference. 
;.;)0 P. M. — Reception to the President of tlie L'nited 
vStates, the Governors of the Several States an^i 
( )ther Invited Guests, followed hy an Informal 
1 )ance. 
Thursday, September 26 — Civic and Industrial Day. 
!).:".() A. M.— Parade. 
Afternoon — I'.and Concerts, Races and J'.xcursions to 

Xearhy Points of Interests. 
(i P. M.— Close of Celehration. 



XL DEATH AND FUNERAL. 

WHEN the Great War broke out in August. 
1914. Governor Sprague was residing in 
Paris with his family. In dehcate health though 
he was, he took a keen interest in the gigantic 
struggle. In the latter i)art of August, when 
the Germans reached Chantilly, and it seemed a 
foregone conclusion that they would repeat their 
visit of 1S7U to the French capital, the old War 
Governor's faithful wife concluded that it would 
be better to remove him to the sea coast, to avoid the 
supposed inevitable bombardment. Through influen- 
tial Parisian friends, special permit to pass through 
the French lines was secured. There were no auto- 
mobiles or taxicabs to be had so a dilapidated fiacre, 
drawn by a rheumatic horse, and driven by a coacher 
who looked to be !»0 years old. was secured to convey 
the refugees to a point twenty miles from the city, 
beyond the lines. Governor Sprague realized that it 
was to be a perilous journey, so he asked that a large 
American flag be packed in his suit case "to wrap my 
l)ody in. in case anything should happen," he remark- 
ed with a grim smile. The drive was tedious, but no 
untoward incidents occurred. Outside the lines a 
swift automobile was waiting to take the governor 
and his wife to Trouville. They had not proceeded 
far in the big machine when a German aeroplane ap- 



62 




AUSTIN BLAIR, 
Michigan, 1862. Historian of War Governors 



THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 63 



peared overhead. It commenced following the car. 
Governor Sprague noticed it, and unpacked his Amer- 
ican flag. "They will not hurt us if they see this," he 
said, as he coolly draped it over the back of the tour- 
ing car. The observer in the aeroplane saw the Em- 
blem of Freedom, and soon the course of the birdmen 
was stered away in another direction. The aged war 
governor stood the journey well, in fact he enjoyed it. 
He remained on the coast until the German peril was 
dissipated and the would-be invaders turned back, 
then he expressed a desire to return to his comfort- 
able quarters in Paris. The return trip was made in 
safety, and the automobile landed him at the door of 
his mansion. After his return, he continued to take 
a keen interest in the progress of the war. He loved 
to watch the marching soldiers, whose gay uniforms 
reminded him of Civil war times. His wife and Cap- 
tain and Mrs. Mason were assiduous in their atten- 
tions. His last days were full of love and serenity. 
Those nearest and dearest to him could not help but 
note that the physical decline was becoming more 
rapid. It was a pleasure to be with him and enjoy 
the splendor of the personality of that soul which so 
soon was to be released in Infinity. During the sum- 
mer of 1915, it was realized that the end was near. 
The dying man expressed one wish and that was that 
he might survive until his 85th birthday, which would 
occur on September 12. Some of his ancestors had 
lived that long, it was his final ambition. ''I am ready 
to go," he told his family, " anv time T am called, l)ut 



64 THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 

life is sweet, and parting is sad." The Grim Time- 
keeper was measuring his allotted span carefully. As 
Fate would have it, the sand ran out on the night of 
Septemher 11. The great war governor went to his 
reward peacefully, surrounded hy his family and his 
dear friends, Captain and ]\lr,s. Mason. There was 
universal sorrow when the news was flashed out. The 
tributes of press and of public men were seemingly 
endless in number, and beautiful in the extreme. 
Rhode Island asked for the honor of being the final 
resting place for his remains. Following are some of 
the press accounts of the death, funeral arrangements 
and press notices of the state obsequies — in all a digni- 
fied final chapter to a magnificent career. 



V'V 




EDWARD SALOMON, 
Governor of Wisconsin, 1862. 



New York Herald, September 12, 1915. 

WILLIAM SPRAGUE, "NOTED WAR GOV- 
ERNOR," IS DEAD. 



Famous Chief Executive of Rhode Island Passes 

Away In His Home At Paris. 

Special Cable to the New York Herald of September 12, 
1915, from the Herald Bureau, No. 49, Avenue de I'Opera, 
Paris. 

MR. WILLIAM SPRAGUE, "war governor of 
Rhode Island and twice L^nited States Sena- 
tor from tliat state, died at liis home liere today. He 
had l)een ill for nmre than live )ears with the infirmi- 
ties of age. .Meningitis developed a few days ago, and 
his i)hysical condition was so weak that he soon suc- 
cumbed. 

With liim \vhen he died were his wife and his old 
friends. Captain and Mrs. Frank H. ]\[ason. Mrs. 
Inez Stiness, his granddaughter, is expected to leave 
New York today for Paris. Mr. vSprague had lived 
in I'aris since l!»lii. 

Sim])le funeral services will lie held at the residence, 
after which the body will ])e taken to Rhode Island for 
burial. 

Mr. William Sprague, the last of the twelve war 
Governors who upheld the hands of President Lincoln 
througli the perils of the opening days of the Civil 
war. was three times governor of Rhode Island, and 



66 THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 

was twice elected to the United States Senate. He 
had the distinction of having received more votes in 
the election of a governor of Rhode Island than any 
other nominee ever received, when, in 186;5, he re- 
ceived 11,10!) votes out of a total of 11.264 ballots cast. 
When first elected as governor of Rhode Island he 
was only twenty-nine years of age, and was the }oung- 
est governor of any state in the Union. 

Born at Cranston, R. I., in 1830, Mr. Sprague was 
the son of Amasa and Fanny Morgan Sprague. from 
whom he inherited what was in those days considered 
a great fortune. His great-grandfathe|-, the first 
William Sprague, started his business career in a 
humble way on the Pocassett river, where he built 
a saw mill and grist mill. From this business grew 
the Sprague fortune. Mr. Sprague was named for his 
great-grandfather. After graduating from the Irving 
Institute at Tarrytown, N. Y., he entered politics, and 
for many years was the most important political leader 
in Rhode Island. 

Prepared For Civil War. 

As governor of Rhode Island Mr.Sprague foresaw 
the Civil war, and his state was the first to prepare for 
the coming conflict. He organized a state militia and 
maintained it at his own expense, and these troops 
were among the first to be enrolled in the army which 
was called for in President Lincoln's Proclamation. 
He led his troops at the battle of Bull Run and dis- 
tinguished himself for gallantrv under fire. 



THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 67 



Soon after the battle of Antictain. President Lincoln 
issned his proclamation calling npon slave owners to 
lay down their arms. A few days later the famous 
meeting of governors of the loyal states was held, 
(uivernor Spragne attended it, and was one of the men 
who approxed the Emancipation Proclamation of J^in- 
coln. and to issue the address to the President that 
commended him for his stand and urged him to prose- 
cute the war with all vigor. He was most active in 
raising troops to light for the Union, and was one 
of the staunchest supporters of President Lincoln. 

Mr. Sprague married Miss Catherine Chase, daugh- 
ter ()f the Secretary of the Treasury under President 
Lincoln, and afterwards chief justice of the United 
States Supreme Court. Their wedding in Washing- 
ton in Xovember. ]8(5;), was attended by the President, 
his cabinet, the foreign diplomatic representatives in 
Washington and members of congress. It was said to 
have been the most brilliant wedding that ever took 
place in Washington. Mr. and Mrs. Sprague became 
social leaders in the national capital. They maintained 
a residence there, and later built a country home at 
Xarrangansett Pier, which they called Canonchet, 
after the Xarragansett Indian chief. 

Was Re-elected in 1868. 

Mr. Sprague was elected to the United States Sen- 
ate in LSG2 and re-elected in 18(38. At that time his 
fortune had Ijecome more or less involved. There 
was a political light on in Rhcxle Island, and this. 



THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 



combined with commercial rivalry between Mr. 
Sprague and other larger Rhode Island commercial 
interests, finally caused his retirement from active poli- 
tics. In the financial panic of 1873 Mr. Sprague's 
business was suspended, but even in those days of 
depression his property was valued at close to 
$10,000,000 and his liabilities at about $11,000,000. 

Married Second Time. 

Mr. Sprague married ^Nlrs. Dover Inez Calvert, of 
Greenbriar County, W. Ya., in 1883. She survives 
him. Soon after his second marriage, he again be- 
came a candidate for political office, and was the Dem- 
ocratic and Independent nominee for Governor of 
Rhode Island. He was defeated in the election. 

Canonchet, the Sprague country home at Narragan- 
sett Pier, which was one of Rhode Island's show 
places, was destroyed by fire in 1902. The place was 
Mr. Sprague's pride. 



THE TRIBUNE EDITORIAL. 

Editorial by W. H. Schwartz in Altoona Tribune, Septem- 
ber 14, 1915. 

The I^ate War Governor. 

The death of former Governor William Sprague, 
of Rhode Island, which was announced yesterday 
morning, removes the last of the War Governors. 
He was elected Governor of Rhode Island as a Dem- 
ocrat in 1860, and re-elected as a Republican. The 
Civil War broke out during his first term, and as he 



I 




NATHANIEL S. BERRY, 
Governor of New Hampshire, 1862. 



THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 



resolved to stand by President Lincoln and the Union, 
the Republicans were glad to turn in and re-elect him. 
He was an officer during the war and was elected to 
the Senate of the United States for three terms. 
Young, rich and handsome, he seemed to have before 
him every prospect for a career of extraordinary bril- 
liancy. 

The shadows began to fall athwart his pathway 
quite early in his career. His first trouble was a do- 
mestic one. He married Kate Chase, daughter of 
Salmon P. Chase, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court 
of the United States, but the union did not prove a 
congenial one. There was considerable trouble, some 
scandal, and a dissolution of the union. Later on he 
met with Imsiness reverses, and a good many of the 
later years of his life were spent abroad. Pie lived 
on, however, attaining a great age, and dying on the 
day before he would have begun his 86th year. He 
had many friends who continued to regard him with 
affectionate interest, Init his political career ended long 
ago. 

At the time the preparations were on foot for the 
semi-centennial celebration of the meeting of the W'a.y 
Governors in this city an eft'ort was made by some of 
the old soldiers to get into communication with him 
in order to secure from his lips some reminiscences of 
that memorable conference of the Governors of the 
great loyal States of the North. xA. visit was made to 
him. but he was just recovering from a severe illness, 
and neither his physical nor his mental powers were 



70 THE LAST OP THE WAR GOVERNORS. 

equal to the occasion. He could remember nothing of 
importance in connection with the meeting in 1863, 
and it was feared he never would. But he recuperated 
and went to Paris, where he resided until his death. 

Later, during a visit of Colonel Henry W. Shoe- 
maker, President of the Altoona Tribune Company, to 
Europe, he had the pleasure of an interview with Gov- 
ernor Sprague and published a very vivid and in- 
tensely interesting account of it on the editorial page 
of this paper. He found the Governor fully recovered 
from his rather serious indisposition, with a mind as 
1)rilliant and a recollection of the past as enduring as 
could have been expected. It was a great and rather 
unexpected privilege which Colonel Shoemaker en- 
joyed of listening to this venerable man as he reviewed 
the history of that conference as well as of the striking 
scenes and incidents of that troubled time. 

The country was particularly fortunate in its War 
Governors. Andrew G. Curtin was Governor of 
Pennsylvania, and no man did more to help ^\r. Lin- 
coln or to aid the Union cause. John A. Andrew, 
Governor of Massachusetts, was another mighty force 
on behalf of political righteousness, and so was Rich- 
ard Yates, of Illinois, and Oliver L. Morton, of In- 
diana. In fact, all the. Governors of the great North- 
ern States were men of exceptional strength of 
character, and they seem to have been set apart for 
precisely such a time as that. Americans may well be 
grateful that the executive officers of the loyal States 
were such men as thev were, and it is a great satisfac- 



THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 71 



tion to recall their heroic services nn behalf of the 
Union. Without the splendid lielp llicy rendered, 
victory would have been delayed. And now the last of 
them has taken a final farewell of earth. 



Governor Beeckman's Cablegram. 

Cablegram sent to Mrs. William Sprague. by lion. 
R. Livingston lieeckman, Governor of Rhode Island: 

Providence, R. I., October 8, 1915. 
I\Ii;s. William Sprague, 115 Rue de la Pompe, Paris: 

I wish to meet Governor Sprague's body when 
it arrives in Providence. The First P.attery, Grand 
Army of the Republic, myself and staiT. want to escort 
the body to the burying ground. Will have a member 
of my stat¥ at dock when steamer arrives. Please 
cable name of steamer, date of sailing, and what other 
arrangements are. 

R. LivixcSTOx r.Ki:(KM AX, Ciovernor. 

Mrs. Sprague's Reply. 

Reply from Mrs. Sprague sent to (K)vernor P.eeck- 
man : 

Pakis, OcToni-u 8, 1915. 
GovERXoij R. L. Peeckmax, 

Providence, R. 1., U. S. .\.: 
Accept with deep appreciation proffered invitation 
for public funeral. Body will leave on steamer Roch- 
amljeau, ()ctol)er 2'id. 

I. C. Sl'U.UiUK. 



72 THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 

Sprague's Body Coming Here. 

From the New York Sun. 

Paris. Octobkk 22. 

The body of \\'illiani Sprague, War Governor of 
Rhode Island and ex-United States Senator, who 
died at his home here on September 11, will be 
sent to New ^'ork on the French liner Rochambeau, 
which will sail tomorrow from Bordeaux. Mrs. 
Sprague, the widow, and Mrs. Inez Stiness, a grand- 
daughter, will accompany the body. 

Miss Elizabeth Thackera, daughter of Consul- 
General Thackera; A. W. Schall, a munitions agent; 
M. Ortiz, representing the Poiret firm ; Charles 
Dalm'ores, the opera singer, and G. W. Stephens, are 
among the .'>0(» passengers booked to sail on the Roch- 
ambeau. 



Tribute for War Governor. 

From the New York Sun. 

Providence, October 2(). 

By order of Governor Beeckman, Rhode Island will 
pay high honor to \\'illiam Sprague, last of the 
War Governors, on Friday next, when his funeral is 
to be held from Grace Chiuxh. 

Governor Beeckman has ordered a State ceremony, 
with National Guard and Grand Army escort. Bishop 
Perrv is to officiate. 



THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 



To Meet the Body of the Late Governor Sprague. 

From Providence, R. I., Journal, November 1, 1915. 

Executive Secretary Menry Renter and Colonel 
Michael j. Lynch, of Governor Ueeckman's staff, are 
in New York, awaiting the arrival of the French 
steamer Rochamheau, on board of which is the body 
of the late William Sprague, Rhode Island's famous 
Governor, and the last of the War Governors. Col- 
onel Lvnch and !\lr. ]\euter are ])ersi)nal representa- 
tives of GoN'crnor IJcecknian. 

'^I'he Rochamheau was due to arrive in Xcw.^'ork 
todav, but according to the latest marine news it will 
not reach that ]:)ort until tomorrow. The body ot the 
late Governor Sprague will then be taken to Xarra- 
gansett Pier, where there will Ije a funeral service 
Thursday for i)crsonal friends of the late Governor at 
St. Peter's Church. 

^Mie body is scheduled to arrive at the Union Sta- 
tion in this city at 11 o'clock Friday, where it will be 
met by Governor Beeckman and his full staff, the 
Rhode Island Light Jiattery, the veterans of the 
G. A. R.. the veterans of the Providence ^Marine .\rtil- 
lery, of which Governor Sprague was at one time 
Colonel, and a full parade of the Coast .\rtillery Regi- 
ment. 

The funeral procession will i)roceed to (n-ace 
Church, where Rt. Rev. James De Wolf Perry, Bishop 
of the Diocese of Rhode Island, will hold the Episco- 
palian funeral service, after which the body will be 
conveyed to Swan Point Cemetery, where interment 



74 THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 

will take place in the v^prague family plot. The casket 
will be carried on a gun carriage, and a salute of sev- 
enteen guns will be hred by the battery at the time of 
burial. 

Ex-Governor Sprague's Body Reaches New York. 

From Providence, R. I., Journal, November 2, 1915. 

The steamer Rochambeau, bearing the l)ody of for- 
mer Governor William Sprague, arrived in the lower 
harbor at New York last night, and will reach her 
dock about <S o'clock this morning. 

J. Henry Reuter, Executive Secretary to Governor 
Beeckman, and Colonel ^Michael J- Lynch, a member 
of the Governor's staiT, will board a United States 
revenue cutter at (> o'clock this morning and will go 
down the hay to the steamer, where the body will be 
placed aboard the cutter and brought ashore. 

Undertaker Horace 15. Knowles is with the party, 
and as soon as the necessary formalities at the pier are 
concluded, the body will be taken 'on a train and 
carried to Narragansett Pier, where the hrst funeral 
services will be held. 

Assurances that everything possible would be done 
to expedite the delivery of the body of the former 
Governor to the Rhode Islanders who went on to re- 
ceive it were received yesterday by Collector of Cus- 
toms Frank E. Fitzsimmons from the customs ofificials 
at New York. 

In response to a request from Mr. Reuter, Collector 




WILLIAM BURTON, 
Governor of Delaware, 1862. 



THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 75 

Fitzsimmons wrote Dudley Field Malone, Collector of 
the Port of New York, asking that the New York 
department make a special effort to facilitate the trans- 
fer of the body from the ship on which it arrived from 
France to the party which is to accompany it here. 

Yesterday the Rhode Island Collector received a 
letter from Chief Deputy Collector H. C. Stewart, 
informing him that Collector Alalone was absent from 
the city, but stating that all the machinery of the 
office would be used to assist the Rhode Island party. 

'"As a matter of fact," Air. Stewart wrote, "we shall 
issue the permit for the delivery of the body in ad- 
vance of the arrival of the steamer, and the customs 
formalities on the dock will, therefore, be almost nil." 



Body of Governor Sprague on Train En Route to 
Pier. 

From Providence, R. I., Bulletin, November 2, 1915. 

The body of War Governor William Sprague, who 
died in Paris, September 11, will arrive at Narra- 
gansett Pier about 5 o'clock this afternoon. It left 
New York today at 1 o'clock by train, having been 
landed from the steamer Rochambeau at !).3() this 
morning. 

Airs. William Si)rague, Airs. Inez Sprague Stiness 
and Aliss Alice Stiness arrived from Paris with the 
body. They were met at the dock by J. Henry Renter, 
Secretarv to Governor Beeckman ; Colonel Alichael I. 



76 THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 



Lynch, of the Governor's staff, and A. Stndley Hart, 
of Narragansett Pier. 

The casket was draped with an American flag, upon 
which rested the flag of the State of Rhode Island. A 
wreath from Governor Beeckman was also upon the 
casket. Through the courtesy of the New York offi- 
cials, the body was landed without any trace of cus- 
toms formalities, and was taken in charge by Air. 
Renter and others. 

It was shipped to the depot and at 1 o'clock started 
upon its way to Narragansett Pier. Undertaker 
Horace B. Knowles personally assisted in receiving the 
bodv at New York. 

The state funeral will be held in this city Friday. 
On Thursday there will be a funeral service in St. 
Peter's Church, Narragansett Pier, for relatives and 
l)ersonal friends. 

Governor Sprague's body will arrive in this city at 
1 o'clock Friday afternoon and will be met at the 
depot by Governor Beeckman and his entire staff, the 
Rhode Island Light Battery, veterans of the G. A. R., 
a National Guard detachment and the Providence 
Marine Artillery, of which Governor Sprague was a 
Colonel. 

There will be a procession to Grace Church, where 
Rev. Frank Warfield Crowder, rector, will conduct the 
services, assisted by Bishop James De Wolf Perry. 
Burial will be at Swan Point Cemetery, in the Sprague 
familv lot, where Rev. Dr. Crowder will officiate. 

The casket will be carried on a gun carriage, and a 



THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 77 

salute of seventeen guns will l)e fired by the l)attery 
over the gra\e. 

At a meeting held last evening in the old Armory on 
Uenelit Street, the members of the l'rn\'idence Marine 
Corps of Artiller_\- X'eteran Association voted to attend 
the fuenral on Friday. 

The former (lovernor was dee])ly interested in the 
organization, and at one time was its commander. A 
committee, consisting of Commander Henry W. 
Xewtun. lulgar 1\. liarker, Ceorge ]). Peck, George C. 
Xightingale, and Thomas Al. Aldrich. was appointed 
to draw u]) a set of resolutions upon the War Gov- 
ernor's death. 

The members voted to meet at th^ Armory at noon 
on Fritla}-, and from there they will in'oceed in a body 
to the general meeting place of the organization> 
which are to attend the funeral. 

At a special meeting of the Xarragansett 'i'own 
Council yesterday forenoon it was voteti : That W. 
Herbert Caswell, representing the town of Xarragan- 
sett, and James D. Caswell, representing Edgwick 
Post X'o. 7. G. A. R., be requested to proceed to New 
York to meet the body of ex-Governor Sprague and to 
give any aid possible to ]\lrs. Sprague. It was further 
voted that the Council attend the funeral in a body. 

Flags have been ordered at half-staff Friday on 
State buildings, the day of the funeral, in accordance 
with custom in such cases, the colors will be raised 
about 8 o'clock in the morning and remain at half-mast 



78 THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 

until the time of burial, late in the arternoon. The 
order was issued today at the office of Adjutant Gen- 
eral Abbot. 



Body of the State's War Governor Now at the Pier. 

From Providence, R. I., Journal, November 3, 1915. 

The members of the Town Council of Narragansett 
acted as an escort of honor while the body of former 
Governor William Sprague was taken from Kingston 
to St. Peter's Church, Narragansett Pier, yesterday 
afternoon. 

Governor Sprague's body arrived at New York 
from Paris in the forenoon, and was brought by train 
to Kingston, arriving at 5.34 in the afternoon. Here 
it was met by the Narragansett officials and was es- 
corted to the church. 

Tomorrow there will be a service at the church for 
immediate friends and relatives, and on Friday a state 
funeral, with full military and civic honors, at Grace 
Church, in this citf. 

Brown University has selected the following offi- 
cials to represent it at the state funeral : President 
W. H. P. Faunce ; C. S. Sweetland, Treasurer of the 
Corporation; Rev. Henry M. King, D. D., pastor 
emeritus of the First Baptist Church, and William W. 
Douglas, former Chief Justice of the State Supreme 
Court. 

With the Narragansett Town Council acting as an 
escort of honorary bearers, preceded by a squad of 



COLONEL WILLIAM SPRAGUE IN LATER LIFE. 
iblished with Permission cf Providencs (R. I.) Tribune. 



THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 79 



])olicc, the body, borne by eight bearers, was taken 
from the station to St. Peter's Church. The bearers 
were Stephen T. Browning, James D. Caswell, Charles 

F. Bocherle, James G. Burns, John H. Cranston. 
Joseph G. Johnston, Freeman P. W. Tefft, and Gustav 
Walter. The procession was met at the church by 
Rev. Walter 11. B. Allen, the rector, who will conduct 
the funeral services tomorrow. Sedgwick Post No. 7, 

G. A. R., will attend the services in a body, as will the 
members of the Town Council and the Narragansett 
Volunteer Fire Department. A delegation of Way 
Scouts will also be present. 

jMrs. Sprague, IMrs. Stiness and Miss Avis Stiness 
are with Mrs. Wenceslao Borda, at Ocean Spray, 
Narragansett Pier. 

In the general order through the office of the Adju- 
tant General by Lieutenant Governor San Souci, act- 
ing Governor and Commander-inChief, directing flags 
to be placed at half-staiT in honor of former Governor 
Sprague, it is stated : 

"The Commander-in-Chief announces with pro- 
found sorrow the death of former Governor William 
Sprague. which occurred at I'aris. France, on Septem- 
ber 15. At the time of the Civil War, Governor 
Sprague rendered most valuable service in equipping 
and forwarding troops for the preservation of the 
Union, and had the unique distinction of being the last 
surviving War Governor. Afterward, in the United 
States Senate, he represented the State faithfully and 



80 THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 

ably, and his name will go down in history as one of 
its most distinguished citizens. 

"In respect to his memory, it is directed that the 
tlags on all State Armories shall be displayed at half- 
stalT on the day of the funeral, Friday, the oth inst." 



Honored by Townspeople. 

The body of War Governor William Sprague. 
which reached Xarragansett Pier yesterday, now 
rests in St. Peter"s-by-the-Sea, guarded In- day by 
members of the Grand Army of the Republic, of 
which he was a member, and at night l)y the police of 
the town of Xarragansett. 

The Town Council of Narragansett had a special 
meeting Monday morning to make arrangements for 
the funeral of the War Governor, and it was voted to 
attend the services in St. Peter's-by-the-Sea tomorrow 
in a body. A resolution was also adopted that W. 
Herbert Caswell, representing the town of Narragan- 
sett, and James D. Caswell, representing the Grand 
Army, should meet the steam Rochambeau on its arri- 
val in New York and accompany the body to the Vlev. 

The body arrived at Kingston yesterday at 1.3 i 
P. M., accompanied by the widow and grand-daughter, 
Mrs. Sprague and Mrs. Inez Sprague Stiness, and her 
little daughter. In the funeral party were also A. 
Studley Hart, of this city, representing Mrs. Sprague, 
and Henry Renter and Colonel M. J. Lynch, represent- 
ing Governor Beeckman, and the Alessrs. Caswell, 



THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 81 

representing the Xarragansett 'l\)\vn Council and the 
C.raiid Arni)-, rc.s])ecli\-cl_\'. 

The funeral party was met at the Kingston station 
hy the f»ilh)\ving men of Narragansett, who are to act 
as l)earers at the funeral Thursday noon: Stephen T. 
i'.rowm'ng. James 1). Caswell, Charles F. Botcherle,, 
James 1). Hnrns, h)hn II. Cranston, Joseph G. 
Johnston. Freeman 1'. W . Teft't. Gustav Walter. 

( )n arrival at the Pier, the casket was taken in 
charge hy the hearers, who formed a bodyguard to the 
cliurch. walking on either side of the hearse, the police 
marching ahead. Members of the Town Council also 
walked in the procession. 

The body was received at the church b\- the rector. 
Rev. W. 11. 15. Allen, who will conduct the services 
tomorrow. 

The members of Sedgwick Post, G. A. R., of Narra- 
gansett, will attend the funeral in a body, and also the 
Boy Scouts, together with the Narragansett Town 
Council and N'olunteer Fire Department. 

Mrs. Spragiie, Mrs. Stiness and her daughter are 
the guests of the mother of Mrs. Stiness, Mrs. Avice 
Wheaton Borda, at her \illa on Ocean Road, wdiere 
she has been spending the summer and fall. Iiaving 
recently been joined there 1)}' her husband, Mr. Wen- 
ceslao lu)rda. of Porto Kico. 

The l)ody is scheduled to arrive at tlie Union Station 
in this city at 1 o'clock P'riday. where it will l)e met 1)\' 
Governor Beeckman and lii> full staff, the Rhode 
Island Light ISattery, tlie veterans of ilic G. A. K.. the 



82 THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 

veterans of the Providence Marine Artillery, of which 
Governor Sprague was at one time Colonel, and a full 
parade of the Coast Artillery Regiment. 

The funeral procession will proceed to Grace 
Church, where Rt. Rev. James De Wolf Perry, Bishop 
of the Diocese of Rhode Island, will hold the Episco- 
palian funeral service, after which he body will be con- 
veyed to Swan Point Cemetery, where interment will 
take place in the Sprague family plot. The casket will 
be carried on a gun carriage, and a salute of seventeen 
2:uns will be fired by the batterv at the time of burial. 



Church Services Held at Pier for Governor Sprague. 

From Providence, R. I., Bulletin, November 4, 1915. 

The first of the funeral services for Rhode Island's 
War Governor, who died in Paris on September 
11, was held in St. Peter's Church, Narragansett Pier, 
at noon today. To-morrow, in Grace Church, this city, 
there will be a state funeral, at which full military and 
civic honors will be paid. 

St. Peter's Church was filled with relatives, intimate 
friends and many of he residents of Narragansett 
Pier who had acquaintance with Governor Sprague. 

The service today was simple. There was no music 
or singing. The procession up the center aisle, accom- 
panying the casket, was made up of the ushers, bearing 
the casket, the family, and delegations from the Rhode 
Island Boy Scouts, the G. A. R. and the Narragansett 
Pier Fire and Police Departments. 




ISRAEL WASHBURN, JR. 
Governor of Maine. 1862. 



THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 83 



Rev. W. H. W. Allen, rector of the church, gave 
Scripture reading, followed by a prayer, lie preached 
a brief sermon. 'J'his was followed by prayer by Rev. 
Philip M. Prescott. of Washington, a summer resident 
of the Pier. 

The bearers were Stephen T. Jlrowning, James D. 
Caswell, James (i. lUirns, Charles F. Botcherle, Gustav 
Walters. John 11. Cranston, Joseph G. Johnston, and 
Freeman W. Tefft. 

The ushers were John J. Penson. L Irving Denico. 
Frank L. Caswell and William C. Farrow. Isaac A. 
Allen had charge of he many floral tributes which had 
been sent to the church. 

Among those present at the service were Mrs. Wil- 
liam Sprague. Mrs. Inez Sprague Stiness, Mrs. Amasa 
Sprague, and Mr. and Mrs. A. Studley Hart. Others 
present included the members of the Narragansett 
Town Council and members of the General Assembly 
and the Judiciary for that section of the State. 

Among the fioral tributes were a large cross, extend- 
ing the entire length of the casket, of lilies-of-the- 
valley and Easter lilies, from Mrs. William Sprague; 
a wreath of Easter lilies, from Governor Peeckman; a 
wreath of pink and white chrysanthemums, from the 
East Greenwich Academ\- ; standing wreaths of white 
chrysanthemums, from Mrs. Avis Borda, a sister of 
Mrs. Sprague, and Mrs. Frank Prowning, a daughter. 
The G. A. R. also sent a wreath of white roses. There 
were man\- indi\-idual lri])Utes. 



84 THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 

State House to Close in Former Governor's Honor. 

Providence Journal, November 4, 1915. 

The funeral of former Governor William Sprague 
will be held today from St. Peter's Church, Nar- 
ragansett Pier, immediate friends and relatives being- 
invited. Tomorrow the body of the state's war gov- 
ernor will be brought to this city and a state funeral, 
with full military and civic honors, will be held from 
Grace church. 

Acting Governor Emory J. San Souci will announce 
today that the state house will close at 1 o'clock on 
Friday afternoon in honor of the former governor. 
The capitol building will remain closed for the en- 
tire afternoon. 

Brown University has selected the following offi- 
cials to represent it at the state funeral : President 
W. H. P. Faunce, C. S. Sweetland. treasurer of the 
corporation ; Rev. Henry M. King. D. D., pastor 
emeritus of the First Baptist church, and William W. 
Douglas, former chief justice of the state supreme 

In the general order issued through the office of the 
adjutant general by Lieutenant Governor San Souci, 
acting governor and commander-in-chief, directing 
flags to bep laced at half-staff in honor of former 
Governor Sprague, it is stated : 

"The commander-in-chief announces with profound 
sorrow the death of former Governor William 
Sprague, which occurred at Paris. France, on Sep- 
tember 11. At the time of the Civil war Governor 
Sprague rendered most valuable service in equipping 



THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 85 

and forwardinj; troops for the preservation of the 
union, and had the nni(|ue (hstinction of heing the last 
surviving- war governor. Afterward, in the United 
vStates Senate, he represented the state faithfully and 
ably, and his name will go down in history as one 
of its most distinguished citizens. 

"In respect to his memory, it is directed that the 
Hags on all state armories shall be displayed at half- 
stafif on the dav of his funeral. Fridav, the 5th inst. 



Rhode Island State Will Honor Governor Sprague. 

Providence State Journal, November 5. 1915. 

Funeral services for War Governor William 
Sprague. of Rhode Island, will be held at Grace 
church in this city at l.'M) this afternoon, when full 
military and civic honors will be paid. The former 
governor died in Paris on September 11, and his body 
arrived in this country on Tuesday. Yesterday noon 
the first services were held in St. Peter's church, Nar- 
ragansett Pier. 

Governor Sprague's bod\' will arrive in this city 
early this afternoon and will be met at the Union 
station by Governor Beeckman and his entire staff, 
the Rhode Island Light Battery, veterans of the G. 
A. R.. a detachment of the National Guard and the 
Providence Marine. Artillery, of which the former 
governor was a colonel. 

A procession will be held to Grace church, where 
Rev. Frank Warfield Crowder, rector, will conduct 



THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 



the services. He will be assisted by Bishop James 
DeW'olf Perry. Burial will be at the Sprague family 
lot at Swan Point cemetery, and Dr. Crowder will 
officiate. The casket will be borne on a gun carriage 
and a salute of seventeen guns will be tired over the 
grave by the battery. 

Services at Pier. 

At Xarragansett Pier yesterday St. Peter's church 
was filled with relatives, friends and many residents 
of the Pier who were acquainted with ex-Governor 
Sprague. 

The service yesterday was simple. There was no 
music or singing. The procession up the centre aisle 
accompanying the casket, was made up of the ushers, 
bearers of the casket, the family, and delegations 
from the Rhode Island Boy Scouts, the G. A. R., and 
the Narragansett Pier fire and police departments. 

Rev. W. H. P>. Allen, rector of the church, gave 
Scripture reading, followed by a prayer. He preached 
a brief sermon. This was followed by prayer by Rev. 
Philip M. Prescott, of Washington, a summer resident 
of the Pier. 

Many Floral Tributes. 

The bearers were Stephen T. Browning, James D. 
Caswell, James G. Burns, Charles F. Bochterle. 
Gustav Walters, John H. Cranston, Joseph G. John- 
ston and Freeman W. Tefl:'t. 




FRANCIS H. PIERPONT, 
Governor of Virginia, 1862. 



THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 87 



Tlie ushers were John J. Benson, J. Irving Denico, 
I'rank 1.. Caswell and William C. Farrow. Isaac A. 
Allen had charge of the many lloral tributes which had 
been sent to the church. 

Among the relatives present were : Airs. William 
Sprague. Mrs. Inez Sprague Stiness, Mrs. Amasa 
v^prague and Mr. and Mrs. A. v'^tudlev ITart. Others 
present included the members of the Xarragansett 
town council and members of the general assembly 
and the judiciary for that section of the state. 

.\mong the floral tri])utes were a large cross, extend- 
ing the entire length of the casket, of lilies-of-the- 
valley and Easter lilies, from Mrs. William Sprague; 
a wreath of Easter lilies from Governor Beeckman ; a 
wreath of pink and white chrysanthemums from the 
East Greenwich academy ; standing wreaths of white 
chrysanthemums from Mrs. Avis IJorda, a sister of 
Mrs. Sprague. and Mrs. Frank Drowning, a daughter. 
The (i. A. R. also sent a wreath of white roses. There 
were manv individual tributes. 



Resolutions Adopted. 

Resolutions of sympatliy were passed by the \^et- 
eran Association of the I'rovidence Marine Corps of 
Artillery at a special meeting held at the old arsenal 
Monday evening and were sent to the family of ex- 
C.overnor Sprague. The letter follows: 



THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 



To the Family of the Late Bx-Senator William Spraguc: 
Ladies : Since death has removed from earth our 
late commander, Colonel William Sprague, we desire 
to place on record our profound appreciation of the 
services rendered by him to the state of Shode Island, 
as its "boy" War Governor, in promptly meeting the 
responsibilities thrown upon him at the outbreak of 
the Civil w-ar, especially by advancing funds neces- 
sary for the equipment of troops required for imme- 
diate service and by accompanying them into the field, 
thus affording a conspicuous example of patriotism 
and of courage that was an inspiration to all ; also of 
the peculiar honor confererred by him upon the Provi- 
dence Marine Corps of Artillery by making it the 
medium through which an entire regiment of light 
artillery was raised whose field officers were chiefs 
of artillery of army corps and whose battery com- 
manders were in demand by the leaders of every ex- 
peditionary force. 

"We tender to his family our sincere sympathy in 
their bereavement, at the same time respectfully indi- 
cating their great consolation is to be found in the 
circumstance that his name is indissolubly linked 
with the proudest epoch in the history of his native 
state. "CoL. Henky W. Newton, 

"George C. Nightingale, - 
"Edgar R. Barker, 
"Thomas W. Aldrich, 
"George B. Peck, 

"Committee. 



THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 89 

"In behalf of and by vote of the Veteran Associa- 
tion (if the I'rovidence Marine Corps of Artillery at a 
special meeting held at the old arsenal on Monday 
evening, November 1, 191"). 

"Attest: Geo. B. Peck. 

"Adjutant. 
"Providence, R. 1.. Nov. I. 1!)1.5;' 



State Honors War Governor Sprague. 

Providence, R. I., Tribune, November (5, 1915. 

A Governor's salute of seventeen guns over the 
grave of William Sprague at Swan Point Cem- 
etery yesterday afternoon was the last tribute paid to 
Rhode Island's famous War Governor. Burial fol- 
lowed a State funeral at Grace Church. 

Full military honors characterized the services, 
which were attended by representatives of every walk 
of life. The body of the former state executive was 
borne upon a gun carriage, and was escorted by Bat- 
tery A, Rhode Island National Guard, from the 
Union station to Grace church, and later to the ceme- 
tery. 

In addition to the governor's salute fired over the 
grave, three salvos were fired by the entire battery 
as the body was lowered into the grave. A bugler 
sounded "taps." The First Artillery District Band 
played funeral dirges as the procession marched to 
the church and to the cemeterv. 



THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 



Rev. Frank Warfield Crowder. rector of Grace 
Church, conducted the services in that edifice, assisted 
by Bishop James De Wolf Perry. The Episcopal ser- 
vice was followed, and the full choir furnished the 
music. The church service commenced shortly after 
1.30 o'clock, as soon as the body came from the Union 
Station, where it arrived at 1.01 o'clock. 

In the church was a gathering of citizens of the 
State representative of all of its people. The Justices 
of the Supreme and Superior Courts, former Govern- 
ors, State officials and members of the General Assem- 
bly, delegations of military organizations and Provi- 
dence city officials were in attendance. 



Flags at Half-Mast. 

Throughout the entire State, hags upon every public 
building hung at half-stafif, and almost without excep- 
tion every other flagstafif on private buildings in Rhode 
Island displayed the American bag lowered in mourn- 
ing. The City Hall main entrance was hung in mourn- 
ing, the display consisting of the flag of the State, amid 
black and white bunting. 

The limited train from Xew York, due here at 1.01 
o'clock, made a special stop at Kingston in the fore- 
noon for the body of Governor Sprague and immediate 
relatives, who came from Xarragansett Pier, where 
there was a funeral service Thursday at St. Peter's 
Church. With the body came Mrs. W'illiam Sprague, 




RICHARD YATES, 
Governor of Illinois, U 



THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 91 



Mrs. Inez Sprague Stiness, Avice Stiness, INlTs. Aniasa 
Spragiie. Mr. and Mrs. Aniasa Sprague. jr.. Mrs. 
Borda and Mr. and Mrs. A. Studley Hart. 

Arriving at tlie Union v^tation here, the car contain- 
ing the bo(l\- was stop|)ed at the west end of the depot. 
'I'he casket was carried from the train through a guard 
of honor, consisting of delegations from the Grand 
Arm\- of the RepubHc and tlie 1^'ovidence Marine 
Corps of Artillery, to the gun carriage from Battery A, 
waiting in the street. 

The members of Battery A who carried the casket 
from the train to the gun carriage were Sergeants W. 
G. Thurber, Duncan Langdon, Theodore S. Butter- 
field, Richard Shaw, Crawford Allen, Bernard Barry, 
C. I). Mayhugh and Corporal H. G. Nelson. Captain 
Everitts S. Chafee was in command of the Battery. 

At the head of the procession were six mounted po- 
lice, in command of Lieutenant Kent, and twenty-four 
officers on foot, under Inspector ]\rc(jann. Sergeant 
Linehan had charge of the police detail handling the 
crowds. 

The funeral procession had previously formed out- 
side the station, and left in the following order : First 
Artillery District Band, playing a funeral dirge ; mem- 
bers of the Grand Army of the Republic and members 
of tlie Providence Marine Corps of Artillery; lUittery 
A in its entirety, with the casket upon the last gun 
carriage in line; carriages containing the family and 
relatives; [Jeutenant Governor E. J. San Souci and 
staff. 



92 THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 



Draped over the casket was a large American flag, 
across the centre of which was laid a smaller flag of 
the State of Rhode Island. The procession went down 
the incline to Washington Street and there turned up 
to Alathewson. thence to Grace Church. 

Rev. Dr. Crowder. assisted by Bishop Perry, con- 
ducted the Episcopal funeral service. The full choir 
sang several selections. 

A. Lacey-Baker, organist, directed the choir. The 
following selections were given : Selection from the 
seventh symphony of Beethoven, "Ave Maria," "Ten 
Thousand Times Ten Thousand," "Lord, Thou Hast 
Been Our Refuge," "I Heard a Voice from Heaven," 
"Lead, Kindly Light," and "Jerusalem, the Golden." 
Chopin's funeral march ended the service. 

Leaving the church after the services, the procession 
formed as before, and marched as far as the entrance 
to the East Side Tunnel, where those on foot dis- 
banded. The band, in automobiles, was hurried to a 
point about a quarter of a mile from the cemetery en- 
trance, and there waited for the prpcession. 

The body, carried on Battery A's gim carriage, and 
followed by the members of the family, special details 
from the G. A. R., and the Providence Marine Corps, 
the Lieutenant Governor and stafif, and Executive Sec- 
retary J. Henry Renter, in carriages, iiroceeded to the 
cemetery. 



THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 93 

• Seventeen-Gun Salute Fired. 

As the oaskel was taken from the gun carriage, the 
band played "Nearer, My God, to Thee," and while Dr. 
Crowder was reading the burial service, Battery A, a 
short distance away, tired the Governor's .salute of 
seventeen guns. As the l)ody was lowered into the 
ground, three salvos 1-y the entire I'.attery were bred 
and "laps"' sounded. 

.\ crowd of over three hundred gathered at the ceni- 
eterv, in spite (~)f the weather, to pay tribute to Gov- 
ernor Sprague. 

The liand. leaving the cemetery, played the old 
martial Innin, "( )nward. Christian Soldiers." 

The members of the family wdio were in attendance 
included the widow, Mrs. William Spragtie ; Mrs. Inez 
Sprague Stiness. Mr. and Mrs. A. Studley Hart, iMrs. 
Amasa Sprague. Mr. and Mrs. .\masa Sprague, Jr., 
Mr. and Mrs. Xorman, Walter F. Angell, Mr. and 
Mr>. I'.yron S. Watson. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Fletcher 
and Mr. and .Mrs. .M . I^'reeman Cocroft. 

Mrs. .\masa Sprague was escorted by Captain Davis 
G. Arnold, of the Governor's staff. Accompanying the 
Lieutenant Governor were Adjutant General Charles 
W. Abbot, Jr., Colonel Michael J. Lynch, and Captain 
Thomas A. Roberts. Tlie usiiers were Colonel Andrew 
Weeks Anthony, Colonel William McLeod. Colonel 
Charles T. Clines, and Colonel Nathaniel W. Smith. 
J. Henry Renter and A. Studley Hart had charge of 
the funeral arrangements. 



94 THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 

Delegates representing the field, staff and line of the 
United Train of Artillery, in the guard honor, in- 
cluded Colonel Robert Bain, Sergeant Major Edwin 
S. Thompson, Lieutenant James ]\IcKinnon, Captain 
William Davenport, of Company A, and Lieutenant 
Colonel J. Prior and Colonel R. A. Green, of the \^et- 
eran Association. 



Prominent Men Present. 

Among those present at the services in the churrh 
were six former Governors of Rhode Island — Abram 
J. Pothier, James H. Higgins, Charles Dean Kimball, 
Lucius F. C. Garvin, Charles Warren Lippitt, and D. 
Russell Brown. There were present also all of the 
Judges of the Supreme and Superior Courts, Lieuten- 
ant Governor San Souci, Secretary of State 
Parker, General Treasurer Reade, Deputy Secretary 
of State Ernest L. Sprague, State Librarian Herbert O. 
Brigham, President Faunce, of Brown University ; 
Speaker Frank H. Hammill, of the House ; Judge 
James E. Dooley, of the Eighth District Court ; Judge 
George B. Bliss, of the Seventh District Court; Repre- 
sentative Jacob A. Eaton, Alderman Joseph Balch, 
Congressman George F. O'Shaunessy, Sheriff Hugh 
McCusker, Sheriff Michael B. Lynch, of Kent County; 
Representative Thomas Lynch, former Mayor P. J. 
McCarthy, Mayor Gainer, Frank J. Clinton, Richard 
W. Jennings, Frank E. Fitzsimmons, Charles A. Wil- 




SAMUEL J. KIRKWOOD, 
Governor of Iowa, 1862. 



THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 95 



son. Waldo M. Place. William M . \\ I ".(.won. Rev. Dr. 
Samuel W. Irwin. Presidenl. W. \'.. .Smith, Secretary, 
and Ke\-. J. iM'ancis Cooper, Trustee ot l^ast Green- 
wich Academy. representiuL;' that institulinn, of which 
C()\ernor S])rat;ue was a graduate in the class of 1818, 
vuA many others, tilling the church. 

jury trials in all the rooms in the SuperiiM" Court 
were suspended yesterday during the hours of the 
funeral services. 



State Honors William Sprague. 

From Providence, R. I., Journal, November 5, 1915. 

It is litting that the funeral of William .Sprague 
today should be accompanied by full military and civic 
honors. Rhode Island is still in his debt for the ser- 
\-ices he rendered it and the natiim in the crucial days 
of 18(il. 

The "War Governor" made a name for himself and 
for Rhode Island l)y the patriotism, promptness and 
industry with which he addressed himself to the task 
of raising an ade(|uate body of soldiers from this State 
fifty- f(jur years ago. The whole country marked with 
enthusiasm the exam])le he set to the executi\cs of 
other States. His action was vigorous and ])ersonally 
States. He did not count the cost or delay over details. 
His one great object was to enable Rhode Island to 
res])ond at the earliest ])ossible moment to Lincoln's 
call for trooi)s. 



96 THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 

Governor Sprague lived long enough to see the two 
divided sections of the country thoroughly reunited. 
He survived, indeed, every other War Governor. His 
life was extraordinarily varied ; it had more than 
its share of vicissitudes. But he retained to old age his 
intellectual vitality and his capacity for appreciation 
and enjoyment. The European War touched him 
closely, and his death at the capital of one of the 
belligerent nations, in the midst of the great struggle, 
afforded a dramatic close to a career that opened like- 
wise amid the boom of hostile guns. 



Tribute to William Sprague. 

Editorial in Providence Bulletin, November 5, 1915. 

The memory of the last of the American War Gov- 
ernors was honored today in the militar}- funeral 
of William Sprague. It was a tribute which no Rhode 
Islander would wish withheld from the man whose 
patriotic energy in 1861 placed the smallest State 
among the foremost in readiness to defend the Union 
and give cause for perpetual pride on the part of every 
son of Rhode Island. What he did as Governor ami 
citizen was an encouragement to the whole North. His 
time, strength and fortune were ready for any calls 
for his country. In his long life, busy career and 
checkered experiences nothing could have given him 
more satisfaction in after years than remembrance of 
his success in enabling his State to make a ready re- 
sponse to President Lincoln's appeal and knowledge 



THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 97 

that his own and succeecHng generations were grateful 
and appreciative of his services in a time of great 
national need. 



Providence Evening Tribune, November 8, 1915. 
In Today's Mail. 

To the lulitor of the livening 'i'ribune: I am qtiite 
sure that 1 express the sentiments of the older 
citizens of our State in thanking Governor Beeckman 
for according ex-Governor Si)ragtie a State funeral. 

1 contrasted the procession Friday with the one in 
18()1, when the young Governor, at the head of 1,000 
men whom he had armed and ecjuipped at his own 
personal expense, marclied through our streets to the 
relief of our national capital. His generous and patri- 
otic action meant much more than the 1,000 men by its 
example and inspiration to other States to go also to 
the help of i'resident Lincoln in tliat trying period of 
our nation's histor\-. 

Again to our Go\ernor Beeckman and others in 
authority we retm-n the thanks of a grateful citizen- 
ship. The members of the Grand Army showed their 
appreciation by turning out so strong in numbers on 
such a stormy day. 

T well remember my last talk with the Governor at 
his home in Paris in the early spring of 191-1. I found 
him very feeble in body, but keenly active in mind as to 
tlie events of the daw both as to the European matters 
and his native State's welfare. As I was taking my 
leave 1 asked : "Well, Governor, have you any mes- 



98 THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 

sage for the people of Rhode Island?" "Yes." he 
said ; "give them my regards and tell them that I love 
them still." That was his message to us. 

The State B'riday showed hy its demonstrations that 
it still appreciated his noble act. 

T. \V. \V.\TERM.\N. 
PUOVIUENCE, NOVEMBEII 6. 



w 




OLIVER P. MORTON, 
Governor of Indiana, 1862. 



XII. HIS PLACE IN HISTORY. 

TIM1\. the eternal Xemesis of injustice, has liad 
(".(iveriKir Sprai^ue's name in mind for many 
\ear>. The friend of the modest, the unassuming, the 
unheralded, it metes out the exact amount of fame due 
to all. As an advisor to President Lincoln in matters 
leadiny up to the lunancipation Proclamation and the 
l.o\al War Governor's Conference, history must accord 
William Sprague a very high place. Through his efforts 
to preserve the Union he has won an undying fame, 
but in three respects he stands out in history as a 
unique figure. First, as the first volunteer of the Civil 
W'ar ; second, as a stalwart advocate of emancipation ; 
third, as one of the originators of the .-Mtoona Confer- 
ence. A man witli three such claims to greatness 
stands among the highest in our National Hall of 
Fame. .\nd yet onl)- in friendly chat did he mention 
these momentous episodes; he sought to detract from 
no man's fame, leaving Time, the just judge, to ar- 
range all. It has been said that part of the greatness 
of men like Lincoln is their al)ility to surround them- 
selves with capable advisors. They could seek advice 
and abide by what was given them, as they trusted 
their intimates. Lincoln was a man accustomed to 
thinking for himself, but l'*.mancii)atiou was some- 
thing so unprecedented and so vast that he must of 
necessity open his heart to a few of those he trusted 



99 



100 THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 



most. Sprague, far-seeing New Englander, grasped 
the situation. He saw victory ahead if the President 
adhered to his mighty intention. It has also been said 
that the only advice people like to hear is the advice 
they want to follow. But Lincoln was no such man ; 
he would have listened if his closest friends had 
warned against the Proclamation. But they were 
unanimous — those whom he trusted most — that he 
should go ahead, and Sprague was one of the corner- 
stones of his inspired act. And as a necessary corol- 
lary to the Proclamation the War Governors' Confer- 
ence passed muster in the young Rhode Islander's 
keen i)rain. It supplemented and cemented the Procla- 
mation h\ the public esteem. It was the keel to the 
boat of freedom. The first volunteer had helped to 
steer the ship of American civilization and progress 
through the shoals and reefs into calm waters. The 
tide had turned. Fatlier Abraham at the helm was 
captain enough for the rest of the journey. The 
modest young pilot had done his duty ; he stepped 
aside, with the feeling that while it was work well 
done, it was "all in the day's work." He wanted no 
fulsome praise, no rewards, no memorials ; he wanted 
his loved nation to live and prosper— that was all. 
And Time, eternal Nemesis of injustice, gave him 
long life to see that the fruits of this work was worth 
while, that his dreams had been realized. And now 
in death a more personal fame may be his; the name 
of William Sprague will be emblazoned with that of 
the immortal coterie whose souls were the light of the 



THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 101 



nation in which \vc Hvc. In conclusion, a poem on the 
Altoona Conference, reproduced belcnv, shows the 
line flights of fancy which the great event inspired in 
the mind of a gifted poetess. 



"MY COUNTRY'S CALL." 

By ANNA PIERPONT SIVITER, 
Daughter of the War Governor of Virginia. 

{In commemoration of a meeting of the Loyal War Gov- 
ernors at Altoona, in 1862, after severe union reverses, for 
the purpos-e of pledging the support of their States to 
President Lincoln, enabling him to call for 300,000 addi- 
tional troops, thus insuring the success of the North.) 

My country, O my country! dark and drear now war clouds 

lower, 
And the traitor's hand has seized you; you are yielding to 

his power. 
And our mighty Leader trembles: In Columbia's great land 
Is there none to send him succor, or uphold his weakened 

hand? 

Never was there direr peril; never was there greater need. 
When a nation's life is threatened, shaken like a broken 

reed; 
When her cry for help is stifled — choken by deadly craven 

fear; 
Victory has fled her standards, and defeat draws swiftly 

near. 

All the world is watching, waiting, for an end that seems 
not far — 

When the hope of oppressed people dies as does a s'hooting 
star — 

When a nation that was founded for the freedom of man- 
kind 

Shall be racked and torn asunder ])y foul slavery, fierce 
and blind. 



102 THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 



But our God is still in Heaven, and His purpose may not be 
Thwarted by man's dumb endeavor. He it was made 

Liberty! 
Loyal States have come together, led by leaders wise and 

brave. 
Who have pledged their best and strongest that the Union 

they will save! 

Hark! Their cry for help is ringing — scarce a cry, ' tis 

more a prayer: 
And the answer to their summons seems to come from 

everywhere. 
Every loyal State is hastening, gladly sending forth her 

best, 
Never braver men have answered to stern Duty's swift 

request. 

Wes't Virginia boys are coming, from her mountains, swift 

and strong — 
Thousands upon thousands marching — you can hear their 

battle song; 
You can see their banners waving! O, my country, 'tis 

for thee 
That they lift their voices, chanting, "Mountaineers are 

always free!" 

Pennsylvania sends battalions — hundreds upon hundreds 

more ; 
Massachusetts men are moving, from her hillsides and her 

shore; 
Maine, Vermont, and staunch Ohio, catch the battle-cry, 

and go — 
How the Lord of Battles led them forth to victory well 

we know — 

How they saved the mighty Union, how they gave their 
lives that we 

In the paths of peace might wander, ever blessed, ever free. 

So we come to pay them homage, praying,"0 Thou Lord of 
Light, 

Help us, as Thou helped our fathers, to climb up to Free- 
dom's height. 

Greed and Lust and Wrong are waiting to withstand us 
on our way; 

Send us leaders, Lord of Wisdom, to uphold and guide Thy 
way." 



THE LAST OF THE WAR GOVERNORS. 103 

It a man is known by his wurks, ilicn all who \vdw 
li\C(l since iho Ci\il War know and love William 
Sp raiiue. 



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